Video: Death and burial in Neolithic Orkney (Part Two)
The second part of Professor Colin Richard’s talk for the UHI Archaeology Institute’s Tombs of the Isles project. Read more
The Ness of Brodgar complex
Discovered in 2003, the Ness of Brodgar site has been under excavation since 2004, revealing a massive complex of monumental Neolithic buildings dating from the centuries around 3000BC.
Without parallel in Atlantic Europe, the Ness of Brodgar’s three hectares are filled with huge stone structures containing spectacular finds.
These have made the Ness one of the most important archaeological excavations in the world today, changing our understanding of the culture and beliefs of Neolithic Orkney and shining a new light on the prehistory of northern Europe.
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.
The archaeology around the Ness and further afield…
A housekeeping update, bringing all our articles on the sites around the Ness, and beyond, together into easier to navigate indexes:
Archaeology around the Ness
Archaeology further afield… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – down by the lochs
This week’s selection of photographs from site director Nick Card.
Click on any image for a larger version.… Read more
Structure Twenty updated…
Excavation this summer provided new insights into Structure Twenty, an earlier building underlying Structure Ten. Read more
Get up close to Structure Twenty-Seven with our latest 3d model

Arguably the most beautifully built structure on the Ness, our latest 3d model features Structure Twenty-Seven in Trench T.
As regular readers will know, the design and construction of… Read more
Video: Death and burial in Neolithic Orkney (Part One)
The first part of Professor Colin Richard's talk for the UHI Archaeology Institute's Tombs of the Isles project. Read more
Video – Circling Structure Ten
Another video from Ness supervisor Jim Rylatt, this time focusing on Structure Ten – the last major construction on site and built around 2900BC.… Read more
Wednesday wildlife returns…
After its summer break, we’re back with a new series of Wednesday Wildlife – a weekly gallery of photographs taken around the Ness of Brodgar by excavation director Nick Card.… Read more
Explore Structure Five and the ‘Great Wall’ with new 3d model of Trench J
Another new 3d model, this time of Trench J and featuring Structure Five and the northern boundary wall – the earliest structures revealed on site.
Trench J was the first… Read more
Time Team geophysicist hails Ness discovery the highlight of his career
Geophysicist John Gater describes the discovery of the Ness of Brodgar as "the main highlight of his career" in the new edition of Time Team's monthly online news. Read more
Video – Drone view of Structure Eight
Another of Jim Rylatt's drone videos, this time focusing on Structure Eight, the longest of the piered buildings excavated on site. Read more
The updates begin…
With the 2023 excavation over, it’s time to start updating the website material to take into account this season’s finds.
We’ve started with the easy ones, which are now available… Read more
2024 dig dates set – the final season of excavation at the Ness
August 2023: Excavation in Trench T. (📷 Doug Plummer)
The dates for next year’s excavation – the final season of fieldwork at the Ness – have been set.
Provided our… Read more
Trench P 3d model in Sketchfab’s top ten
We were delighted to hear today that Paul Durdin’s 3d model of Trench P – created in August 2023 – is in Sketchfab’s top ten this week.
If you’ve not… Read more
Video – Structure One from above
Another short video from Jim Rylatt, this time a 360-degree flyaround of Structure One, the first building found on site back in March 2003.
Note that the walls at the… Read more
Video – Drone flyaround of Trench J
A short video of Trench J from Jim Rylatt, showing Structure Five and the northern boundary wall. Read more
Drone photos from across the site
A superb selection of drone photos from Structure Eight team member Tom O’Brien.
Click on any image for an enlargement.… Read more
Diary Extra – The cover-up begins…
The work to start covering over the trenches for the winter got under way this morning and although we didn’t manage to complete all the structures, we made a great… Read more
New 3d model of Trench P and all its structures
Wander virtually around Trench P with the latest 3d model from Trench J supervisor, Paul, created using drone photographs by Professor Scott Pike. Read more
Dig Diary – That’s it over for another year. See you in 2024!
Paul, Allyson and Estella stacking tyres by the side of Trench P. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)
Day Thirty-ThreeWednesday, August 16, 2023
That’s all folks – the 2022 excavation season at the… Read more
Dig Diary – Another deposit of wood, this time around Structure Twenty
Nick J. excavating around the timber deposit to the north of Structure Twenty’s exposed pier. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)
Day Thirty-TwoTuesday, August 15, 2023
Kristina excavating the pit inside Structure Eight’s… Read more
