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The Ness of Brodgar Project

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The Ness of Brodgar Project

Ness of Brodgar Incised Stone
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The chevron-incised end section. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)

Excavation

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Dig Diary – clay artefact’s decoration reignites our sense of awe and wonder

Even the most jaded digger was left slack-jawed this morning when a tiny clay object reignited the sense of awe and wonder that comes with a truly spectacular find. Read more
(📷 Scott Pike)

Excavation

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Dig Diary – more evidence of a decommissioning feast for Structure Twenty-Seven?

Outside Structure Twenty-Seven’s north-western corner the animal bone is still coming up in copious quantities. Read more
(📷 Tom O'Brien)

Excavation

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Diary extra – drone shots of Structure Twenty-Seven

A selection of this afternoon's photographs from Tom O'Brien. Read more
Site director Nick discussed Structure Forty with Emma, Elena and supervisor Andy. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)

Excavation

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Dig Diary – the earlier buildings just keep coming!

A blustery, but productive, day where the theme was early buildings. Read more
(📷 Sigurd Towrie)

Excavation

Monday, July 29, 2024

Dig Diary – foundation deposits, decorated stones and a truly spectacular replica axe

We begin today with the story of an axe. A rather beautiful polished stone axe fashioned from a rock we know came from Birsay. Read more
Jeanne Rose featured link

Art Hut / Links

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Link: An artist’s legacy – Jeanne Bouza Rose’s visual record of the Ness dig

A link to a new article in Scottish Field magazine featuring Jeanne, one of our artists in residence. Read more
(📷 Sigurd Towrie)

Excavation / Featured

Friday, July 26, 2024

Dig Diary – discovery in Trench Z suggests the ‘Great Wall’ extended to the south-east

A day of incredible finds, not least evidence that suggests the northern boundary wall did indeed extend south-eastwards. Read more
(📷 Sigurd Towrie)

Excavation

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Dig Diary – bone pin in Structure Thirty-Four a rare find for the Ness

The end of another busy day on site, and as we approach the end of week five, it really is a case of heads down as we all aim to achieve the goals for the final season of fieldwork. Read more
(📷 Scott Pike)

Video

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Diary extra – drone orbit of Trench P

Video footage from Professor Scott Pike showing Trench P in all its glory. Read more
(📷 Sigurd Towrie)

Excavation

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Dig Diary – what a difference a day makes!

Back on site this morning, after being away on Tuesday, dig director Nick was both amazed and delighted with the progress made during his brief absence - not just in Structure Twenty-Seven but all across the site. Read more
(📷 Sigurd Towrie)

3D Model / Excavation

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Diary extra – 3d model of Structure Five’s round-bottomed pot

Paul Durdin’s in-situ model of the round-bottomed, ceramic vessel found in Structure Five’s northern extension on Monday. Read more
(📷 Scott Pike)

Excavation

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Dig Diary – post-hole in Structure Ten, while Twelve produces drain three!

A busy day on a site bathed in glorious sunshine. At last! Read more
Nick inspects a fragment of incised stone found by Anthea in the rubble outside Structure Twenty-Seven. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)

Excavation

Monday, July 22, 2024

Dig Diary – making incredible progress in Structure Twenty-Seven

A marvellous start to week five, with great finds and incredible progress across the site. Read more
A close-up of one of the entrance slab's incised marks. (📷 Tom O'Brien)

3D Model

Monday, July 22, 2024

Diary extra – 3d model of Structure Twenty-Seven’s decorated orthostat

A new 3d model from Paul Durdin showing the decorated orthostat that formed part of Structure Twenty-Seven's entrance. Read more
Lorna excavating the large pot sherd in Structure Twenty-Seven. (📷 Tom O'Brien)

Excavation

Friday, July 19, 2024

Dig Diary – Emma’s second decorated fragment, a fine piece of pottery and a very special visitor

A site tour for diggers, another fine, decorated fragment from Structure One and a substantial pot sherd from Trench T. A great end to excavation week four. Read more
Trenches P and J from above. (📷 Scott Pike)

Excavation

Friday, July 19, 2024

Diary extra – views from the ground and up above

A selection of photographs at the end of the fourth week of excavation. Read more
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Ness of Brodgar
Stenness, Orkney
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Please note: The fieldwork element of the Ness of Brodgar project ended in August 2024 and the excavation site is now closed to the public. Our focus is now on post-excavation analysis.

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