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.
Don’t worry. We’re not going… Read more
From 2004, 20 years of excavation on the Ness of Brodgar revealed a huge complex of monumental Neolithic buildings from the centuries around 3000BC.
Without parallel in Atlantic Europe, the site’s three hectares are filled with huge stone structures containing spectacular finds.
These made the Ness one of the most important archaeological sites in the world today, changing our understanding of Neolithic Orkney and shining a new light on the prehistory of northern Europe.
Fieldwork ended in 2024 and the focus is now on the post-excavation analysis of the data gathered. This will lead to full publication with much more available online.
In addition, we will continue working with local communities and schools to develop educational and other resources.
The project is mainly funded through the generosity of the public through our two supporting charities, the Ness of Brodgar Trust and the American Friends.
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… Read more
An entrance to Structure Ten’s outer passageway?
Day Five - An entrance to Structure Ten's outer passageway? Read more
Tracing the path of Structure Thirty-Two
Day Three: Tracing the path of Structure Thirty-Two Read more
Cleaning, geophysics and a trench extension
Day Two: Cleaning, geophysics and a trench extension Read more
The Ness’ seaweed-eating sheep and their 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.The seminar, entitled 5,000 years of waiting… Read more
Back on site and ready for some serious archaeology
Day One: Back on site and ready for some serious archaeology.
We’re back! After two, long and frustrating years life has returned to the Ness of Brodgar. Read more
Structures Seven, Nine, Twenty-Two and Thirty-Four
A look at these four lesser-known buildings. Read more
Structures Eleven and Nineteen
Structures Eleven and Nineteen during the third major phase of activity within Trench P.Around 2900BC, the southern half of Structure Eight had been removed, Structure Ten erected and Structures Twelve… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – a final flurry before excavation resumes
A final selection of photographs from the dig director, Nick Card, before excavation at the Ness of Brodgar resumes next week.… Read more
Structures Twenty-One and Twenty-Nine
Structures Twenty-One and Twenty-Nine in relation to the other piered buildings in Trench P.Structure Twenty-OneThe excavated section of Structure Twenty-One, adjacent to Structure One (top).Schematic showing the suspected layout of… Read more
Structure Sixteen
Occupation Phase Two in Trench P, dating from c3100BC. Structure Sixteen is highlighted in red.The heavily truncated remains of Structure Sixteen sit directly to the south of Structure Fourteen in… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – new arrivals
Some photographs from site director Nick Card of the latest young arrivals at the Ness of Brodgar.
… Read more
