Dig Diary – Monday, August 15, 2011
Day Twenty-One
It is the beginning of week five – which is an alarming thought.
Only this week and next to crack on with uncovering as many of the secrets… 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.
Dig Diary – Friday, August 12, 2011
Day Twenty
A new ‘Comet Stone’
Here is a question for all you blog readers out there in the archaeosphere. Was Halley’s Comet visible in the skies above Orkney in… Read more
Dig Diary – Thursday, August 11, 2011
Day Nineteen
The infernal Orkney wind caused problems on the Ness today, drying the surface of soil and midden and sending it flying over previously cleaned sections.
Frankly, it made… Read more
Dig Diary – Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Day Eighteen
STOP PRESS: Mike has finally found wall lines while investigating the area of the presumed, and long anticipated, entrance to Structure Ten!
However, they are not what we… Read more
Dig Diary – Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Day Seventeen
And the rains have cleared – hoorah!
It’s not quite a balmy and sultry day, but at least it’s mainly dry and waterproofs have been replaced by just… Read more
Dig Diary – Monday, August 8, 2011
Day Sixteen
Experiencing an Orcadian summer…
Think, March of the Penguins.
On a gale-battered, rain-swept, foam swept Ness of Brodgar this morning, 40 or so diggers huddled together in a… Read more
Dig Diary – Friday, August 5, 2011
Day Fifteen
The roof tiles keep coming . . .
The howls of anguish from Structure Eight could be heard all over the site!
After toiling through the detailed recording,… Read more
Dig Diary – Thursday, August 4, 2011
Day Fourteen
Eureka!
There is nothing more satisfying than solving a problem.
This morning, Hugo was standing on the edge of Structure Fourteen, contemplating the complexities of the building which… Read more
Dig Diary – Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Day Thirteen
It was fascinating to watch the dynamic of the site today – half-way through week three and everything is flowing like a well-oiled machine.
Everyone knows exactly what… Read more
Dig Diary – Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Day Twelve
As this diary is written, the rain is battering down on the site hut and some very damp diggers are heading for shelter. It is 3.40pm and, very… Read more
Dig Diary – Monday, August 1, 2011
Day Eleven
It’s been one of those funny Orkney days, with almost no wind, an eerie mist and a sticky temperature. Not particularly conducive to energetic digging, but if the… Read more
Dig Diary – Friday, July 29, 2011
Day Ten
A rather lengthy addition to our web diary today, in recognition of the “Day of Archaeology 2011”.
Check out www.dayofarchaeology.com for more details – hope you enjoy!
There… Read more
Dig Diary – Thursday, July 28, 2011
Day Nine
Behold the “Brodgar Boy”
In addition to the pot discovered in Structure Fourteen, Hilary, a volunteer from Cheshire, has made a very exciting discovery – a ceramic piece… Read more
Dig Diary – Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Day Eight
And suddenly summer is here – sun, a light breeze and no midges – heaven! And what a day of archaeology to accompany this fine weather.
Structure Ten… Read more
Dig Diary – Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Day Seven
A quiet day in many respects, and certainly as far as the weather is concerned. It was calm, and grey and warm all day, and this brought with… Read more
Ness of Brodgar – Preliminary Phasing
The complexities, depth of stratigraphy (perhaps over three metres overall) and the extraordinary preservation of the Ness of Brodgar complex makes an understanding of the phasing of this remarkable site… Read more
