Putting decorated pot, and more, under multiple spotlights!
Testing out RTI photography on pottery and decorated stone. 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.
Eagle-eyed Travis brings Ness pitchstone total to 25
That well known finds magnet strikes again…
Travis, known to some of you from last years on site blog where he gained the reputation for finding several beautiful artefacts, has… Read more
Dig director bound for China
Ness of Brodgar site director Nick Card is bound for China next week, to take part in a workshop on heritage management.
Nick will travel to Xi’an for the event… Read more
Congratulations Dr Johnson…
All the team at the Ness would like to send our congratulations to our resident geologist, who has been awarded her PhD. Read more
New article ponders the mystery of carved stone balls
Ness director Nick Card is pictured (right) in an article in the latest edition of British Archaeology magazine on the enigmatic carved stone balls of Scotland.
Over 200 carved stone… Read more
3D printing the Ness of Brodgar
At the end of last season, we mentioned the tremendous work done by Jim Bright, our photogrammetry expert, and Mark Newton, who produces wonderful physical 3D models from his printer.… Read more
Exhibition of Ness-inspired ceramics opens in London
An exhibition of ceramics inspired by the Ness of Brodgar opens in Southwark Cathedral, London, today, Monday, January 14.
During the summer of 2018, Diane Eagles was one of the… Read more
Helping inspire a new generation of archaeologists
An important element of the Ness of Brodgar excavations is allowing people to experience the site, the artefacts found to date and keeping everyone up to date with the latest… Read more
Volunteers – the dig’s unsung heroes
Over the years, you will have read about many of the volunteers who make the eight-week excavation season happen. They dig, work on finds, run the shop, meet and greet… Read more
Antiquarian delvings on the Ness
Evidence for earlier excavations at the Ness - probably in the early 1880s - has come to light in a handwritten note from the papers, manuscripts and notebooks kept by James Walls Cursiter. Read more
Jeanne’s ‘Vanishing Points’ at Orkney Museum
This Saturday, December 8, sees the opening of Jeanne Rose’s exhibition of artwork inspired by the Ness of Brodgar at the Orkney Museum, Kirkwall. Along with Jeanne’s work will be 3D… Read more
Structure One produces third mat-impressed pot base
There was delight in the Ness pottery HQ this summer when two examples of pot bases, clearly imprinted with the marks of a basketry mat, were recovered – one from… Read more
Ness 2018 artefacts unveiled at Stromness Museum exhibition
As the fog rolled in over Stromness this evening, the town’s museum opened its doors for a preview of its two new winter exhibitions – one of which has a… Read more
From the Trowel’s Edge – this summer’s finds at the Stromness Museum
As regular visitors will know, this summer’s excavation on the Ness of Brodgar revealed a wealth of new artefacts and finds.
A number of these will be on display in… Read more
