Link: Nick Card interview on Strata programme
Site director Nick Card has been in the USA, where he was keynote speaker at the Archaeology Channel’s Conference on Cultural Heritage Media.
Nick delivered a series of talks in… Read more
The Ness of Brodgar complex
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.
Spirits of the Standing Stones
The early antiquarians who documented Orkney's ancient monuments often overlooked or paid little attention to the local beliefs surrounding the sites. So it was a delight to come across a 19th century account in which the author actually spoke to, and recorded, a brief encounter with a young lad from Stenness. Read more
Orkney Archaeology Society’s 2023 review now available to buy
A summary of last season’s excavation is among the Ness-related articles featured in the new 2023 Orkney Archaeology Society annual review.
The publication looks at archaeological and heritage work undertaken… Read more
A selection of the Ness of Brodgar’s finest on display in Orkney Museum
The Orkney Museum is playing host to some of the Ness of Brodgar’s finest artefacts this summer.
Most of those selected formed part of last year’s World of Stonehenge exhibition… Read more
Wild things? Further research on the prehistory of red deer in Orkney
Back in 2016, a joint research project explored the origins of red deer translocation to the Western and Northern Isles by investigating the DNA of deer remains at prehistoric sites, including the Ness of Brodgar.
As with most research projects, even when completed, more questions than answers remain. Read more
Vestrafiold – the enclosure
By Sigurd Towrie
On the lower slopes of Vestrafiold, south-west of the megalithic quarry are the remains of a large, possible prehistoric, enclosure. Covering an area of around seven acres… Read more
Where the eastern annexe fits into the story of Structure Twelve
Cast your mind back to 2019 and you’ll remember there was great excitement in Structure Twelve’s eastern end – in particular the “corner of loveliness”.
This title was applied to… Read more
Vestrafiold – the fake horned cairn
Lying 50 metres east of the megalith quarry on Vestrafiold is an oval mound that was suggested to be the remains of a very poorly preserved stalled cairn. Excavation, however, revealed otherwise. Read more
Ness colour inspires new Neolithic research project
A research project inspired by the use of coloured pigment at the Ness of Brodgar has secured funding from the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Colouring the Neolithic: Searching for… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – ornithological outings
This week’s photographic selection from site director Nick Card.
… Read more
Vestrafiold – the megalithic quarry
From at least the early 19th century, Vestrafiold was considered to be a source of the megaliths found in the Stones of Stenness and Ring of Brodgar. Why? Although several quarries were traditionally said to have produced standing stones, Vestrafiold had the proof in situ - quarried, but abandoned, megaliths scattered across the hillside. Read more
Wednesday wildlife – blue skies and still waters
This week’s photographic selection from site director Nick Card.… Read more
Halykirk – dolmen or stalled cairn?
As regular readers will have noted, 19th century antiquarians were very keen to find evidence of dolmens in Orkney. Haleykirk/Helyakirk/Halykirk/Holykirk lies about a quarter of a mile to the south-east of the megalithic quarries on Vestrafiold, on the hill of Cruaday. Read more
Ness shopping opportunities!
We love this dramatic picture (right) of the entrance to Structure Eight, painted on site by artist-in-residence Jeanne Rose and three stunning new pieces by woodturner Michael Sinclair. Not to… Read more
Field visit and fuel burning: the ongoing story of Structure Eight
Sarah Jane Haston is coming to the end of the second year of her MRes programme looking at the charred plant remains from Structure Eight. Read more
Appeal for Meet-and-Greeters to cover this summer’s excavation
Do you live in Orkney and interested in volunteering on the Meet-and-Greet team at the Ness of Brodgar? Or maybe you live further afield but like the idea?
The Meet-and-Greet… Read more
Palaeoecological investigation of Brodgar’s past landscapes
Sue Dyke, a UHI Archaeology Institute Masters by Research (MRes) student , started palaeoecological investigations around the Ness in February.
Her goal is to reconstruct the prehistoric vegetation around the… Read more
