The Ness of Brodgar Project

Ness visitors. Scott Pike
Ness of Brodgar: Past, Present and Future - out now.

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.

About the Site
The discovery of the Ness complex
Post-excavation

Around the Ness

Skaefrue

Lying around 110 metres downslope and south-west of the Ring of Bookan is the large Bronze Age barrow known as Skaefrue. Read more
The Odin Stone. Marchioness of Stafford. 1805.

Around the Ness / Standing Stones

The Stone of Odin

Until the winter of 1814, the holed monolith stood to the north-west of the Stones of Stenness. But although its special place in the customs, traditions and folklore of the people of Orkney is well documented, we know remarkably little about the stone itself. Read more
Skara Brae (Jim Richardson)

Further Afield / Settlements

Skara Brae

Hailed the best-preserved Neolithic village in northern Europe, Skara Brae stands on the southern shore of the Bay of Skaill, in Orkney’s West Mainland. Read more