Dig Diary – crowds flock to the Ness on our first day open to the public
The gates opened today and we were delighted to welcome over 500 visitors by lunchtime! Including over 300 for the first tour of the season. Read more
Diary extra – capturing the final uncovering in photographs
A selection of photographs from Tom O'Brien documenting the re-opening of the site. Read more
Dig Diary – Transforming black-shrouded trenches to spectacular archaeology
After a long, hard day, all the trenches are now uncovered and ready for excavation. Read more
Diary extra – time-lapse tyre removal
A short timelapse video from Lucy showing the tyres coming off Trench P. Read more
Dig Diary – glorious sunshine, tyres and trench covers…
A glorious day to start the 2024 season - albeit slightly too hot! Read more
Visiting the Ness this summer? A few important reminders…
If you're planning a trip to the Ness dig over the next few months, here's a few reminders... Read more
All set for 2024 – plans for the final season of fieldwork
With just days to go before we're back on site, we look at plans for the 2024 season. Read more
Structure Twenty-Seven reconstruction
A video of a preliminary 3D reconstruction of Structure Twenty-Seven, created by Trench J supervisor Paul Durdin, is now available on the building's page. Read more
Updated site schematics ahead of this year’s dig
As final preparations for the 2024 season continue, here are some updated schematic diagrams of the three main trenches. Read more
Cereal Journey 2 – stable isotope analysis of Ness grain
The second part of an article from Sarah-Jane Haston, who is looking at the charred plant remains from Structure Eight as part of her PhD research. Here she focuses on the isotopic analysis of Ness cereals. Read more
Cereal Journey 1 – radiocarbon dating the grain samples from Structure Eight
The first of the two-part article from Sarah-Jane Haston, who is looking at the charred plant remains from Structure Eight as part of her PhD research. Here she focuses on radiocarbon dating. Read more
Busy times! It’s a veritable research hot-house at the Ness dig HQ
It’s turned into an exceptionally busy week here at Brodgar. Dig HQ is full of ongoing research. And that’s a very good thing. Read more
Link: Gary secures PhD scholarship to continue his research into Neolithic stone tools
Gary Lloyd, a familiar face at the Ness of Brodgar for the past few years, has has won a prestigious PhD scholarship to investigate Neolithic stone tools from Orkney. Read more
Link: ‘Neolithic site in Orkney to be reburied after 20 years of excavation’
An article from The Observer looking ahead to the final season of excavation at the Ness and the reasons for backfilling the site. Read more
Mary Beard opens Ness exhibition at the end of ‘eye-opening’ Orkney trip
Our exhibition at the Orkney Museum was officially opened this evening by the renowned classicist, presenter and author Professor Dame Mary Beard. Read more
Digging into henges and henging…
The Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness have been classed as "henges" since the term was coined in the 1930s. But are they really? And what exactly is a henge? Read more
