The Ness of Brodgar Excavation

Nes of Brodgar Open to the Public this summer

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

A gigantic pot sherd and investigating the building underneath Structure Ten

Dig Diary – Day Thirteen Wednesday, July 14, 2021 We have already mentioned the very large pot which has been uncovered near the blocked north-west entrance to Structure Twelve.… Continue reading

Excavation

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Another polished stone axe from Trench J

Dig Diary – Day Twelve Tuesday, July 13, 2021 It been another day of trench extensions across the site – but not particularly large ones.… Continue reading

Excavation

Monday, July 12, 2021

Small but perfectly formed – Trench J’s miniature axehead

Dig Diary – Day Eleven Monday, July 12, 2021 We’re losing count of the extensions to Trench J this year. There have certainly been three and it looks likely that a fourth will break ground tomorrow.… Continue reading

News

Saturday, July 10, 2021

‘I think I have Dig Deprivation’ – a blog post by Jim Richardson

In 2012, Jim Richardson visited the Ness to capture images for a National Geographic feature. On Thursday, he posted a lovely article on the Ness excavation on his blog.… Continue reading

Excavation

Friday, July 9, 2021

We’ve got it! Structure Five’s western wall revealed

Dig Diary – Day Ten Friday, July 9, 2021 If you want to be really rude to an archaeologist, call them a “wall chaser”.… Continue reading

News

Friday, July 9, 2021

Want to win a copy of our new book?

If you’ve not yet got a copy of our interim monograph, The Ness of Brodgar: As it Stands, and fancy your chances at winning one, here’s your opportunity.… Continue reading

Excavation

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Clipboards, trowels and a find or two…

Dig Diary – Day Nine Thursday, July 8, 2021 Well, that’s been another good, productive day. All across the site the dig team have ironed out the week-one teething troubles and work is progressing smoothly and efficiently.… Continue reading

Excavation

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Big bones, a big pot and another extension for Trench J

Dig Diary – Day Eight Wednesday, July 7, 2021 Extending a trench is no small matter. It’s really only justified if you have a pressing question which needs answering, and this morning in Trench J, supervisor Paul had every justification to extend to the south-west.… Continue reading

Excavation

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Drain delving in Structure Twelve

Dig Diary – Day Seven Tuesday, July 6, 2021 After an afternoon of rain yesterday, day seven dawned brightly and the sun shone all day.… Continue reading

Excavation

Monday, July 5, 2021

Extending the trench outside Structure Twelve

Dig Diary – Day Six Monday, July 5, 2021 One of the joys of post-lockdown digging is meeting old friends and colleagues, and today we welcomed back Structure Twelve supervisor Jim Rylatt.… Continue reading

Excavation

Friday, July 2, 2021

An entrance to Structure Ten’s outer passageway?

Dig Diary – Day Five Friday, July 2, 2021 We can hardly believe it, but today ends the first week at the Ness for the 2021 excavation season!… Continue reading

Excavation

Thursday, July 1, 2021

Excavating, mattocking and making plans

Dig Diary – Day Four Thursday, July 1, 2021 Blue skies, sunshine and first-class archaeology. What more could you want. But although today’s glorious weather undoubtedly boosted the number of site visitors today, in the trenches it was causing something of a problem.… Continue reading

Excavation

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Tracing the path of Structure Thirty-Two

Dig Diary – Day Three Wednesday, June 30, 2021 It’s just like old times. The sun is shining, visitors are thronging the site and the archaeology of the Ness is living up to the highest standards of excitement.… Continue reading

Excavation

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Cleaning, geophysics and a trench extension

Dig Diary – Day Two Tuesday, June 29, 2021 As regular diary readers will know, the first two days back on site are usually taken up with “housekeeping” – tidying up the trenches and the archaeology within ready for work to begin in earnest.… Continue reading

Video

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Dig Diary extra: the Ness of Brodgar’s seaweed-eating sheep and the European context

The recording of last Friday’s UHI Archaeology Institute research seminar, looking at the analysis of sheep and deer teeth from the Ness of Brodgar.… Continue reading

...and its many coverings. (Sigurd Towrie)

Excavation

Monday, June 28, 2021

Back on site and ready for some serious archaeology

Dig Diary – Day One Monday, June 28, 2021 We’re back! After two, long and frustrating years life has returned to the Ness of Brodgar.… Continue reading