The Ness of Brodgar Excavation

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Friday, January 28, 2022

An absence of antler and the riddle of the red deer – part one

Red deer deposition at the Ness of Brodgar and beyond Part 1: An absence of antlers By Kath Page Anyone researching the Orcadian Neolithic, will at some point invariably end up studying the Ness of Brodgar.… Continue reading

Wildlife

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Wednesday wildlife – brief encounter

This week’s photographs from site director Nick Card, focusing on one of his neighbours encountered on Sunday by the shore of the Harray loch.… Continue reading

The upper chamber and entrance at the Taversoe Tuick, Rousay. (Sigurd Towrie)

Around the Ness / Chambered Cairns

Friday, January 21, 2022

Sandfiold: cremation, tomb and cist

“With the discovery of the rock-cut chamber and monumental cist at Sand Fiold, Sandwick, which produced late Neolithic as well as Bronze Age dates, our understanding of Neolithic burial practices began to be challenged.”… Continue reading

Wildlife

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Wednesday wildlife – the calm between the storms

This week’s selection of pictures taken by site director Nick during lulls in the blustery weather.… Continue reading

News

Friday, January 14, 2022

The passing of a great archaeologist

With great shock and numbing sadness we learned today that archaeologist Caroline Wickham-Jones has passed away. Caroline, a great supporter of the Ness and Orkney’s archaeology as a whole, will be sorely missed and our heartfelt condolences go to her family and her many friends.… Continue reading

Around the Ness

Friday, January 14, 2022

Sandfiold: an ‘exceptional’ burial cist in use for almost two millennia

By Sigurd Towrie Like many Orcadian archaeological sites, the discovery of an “exceptional” [1] prehistoric burial cist at Sandfiold in 1989 was accidental.… Continue reading

Wildlife

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Wednesday wildlife – making the most of the winter sun

This week’s photographs from site director Nick Card. … Continue reading

The spectacular polished stone "sky" axe from Structure Fourteen being packed up ready for transport to the British Museum. (Anne Mitchell)

News

Friday, January 7, 2022

Braving the elements to pack artefacts on loan to Stonehenge exhibition

By Anne Mitchell Yesterday morning, Thursday, January 6, was bitterly cold here at the Ness, with snow on the Hoy hills, a gusty Force Eight blowing across the site and horizontal sleety rain.… Continue reading

Wildlife

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Wednesday wildlife – a new year…

It’s been a stormy start to 2022, but fortunately punctuated by a few calmer spells. During one of these, site director Nick ventured out with his camera to bring us these images from around the Ness.… Continue reading

Around the Ness

Thursday, December 23, 2021

The Sandfiold Bronze Age cemetery

“In the Links of Skeall (sic), where sand is blown away with the wind, are found several places built four square, about a foot square, with stones about, well cemented together, and a stone lying in the mouth, having some black earth in them.”… Continue reading

Wildlife

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Wednesday wildlife – the otter at the bottom of the garden

This week’s photographs from Ness site director Nick Card focus on one of his next door neighbours and a frequent visitor to his garden.… Continue reading

Maeshowe Solstice (Historic Environment Scotland)

News

Friday, December 17, 2021

Maeshowe broadcast to mark the winter solstice

Next Tuesday, December 21, is the winter solstice, and to mark the occasion, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is livestreaming an event celebrating Maeshowe and its midwinter alignment.… Continue reading

3D Model / Around the Ness

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Visit Skara Brae virtually with new digital 3D model

A new 3D model of Skara Brae is offering online visitors an immersive digital experience of the 5,000-year-old Neolithic settlement.… Continue reading

Wildlife

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Wednesday wildlife – making the most of the scant hours of daylight

This week’s photographic offering from Ness of Brodgar site director Nick Card. … Continue reading

Around the Ness

Monday, December 13, 2021

The Knowes of Trotty – a Bronze Age cemetery and Neolithic settlement site

By Sigurd Towrie Sitting in an area of marshland in Orkney’s West Mainland are the Knowes of Trotty [*] – a Bronze Age barrow cemetery that is the only one of its kind in northern Britain and the largest between here and southern England.… Continue reading

News

Monday, December 13, 2021

Three Neolithic-inspired bowls available in dig fundraiser

UPDATE: Two new bowls added, bringing stock back to three There’s another three wooden creations from Orcadian woodturner Michael Sinclair available to buy from our online shop.… Continue reading

News

Saturday, December 11, 2021

British Museum announce objects joining Ness artefacts at Stonehenge exhibition

A selection of artefacts from the Ness of Brodgar are among the hundreds coming together for a special exhibition on Stonehenge at the British Museum next year.… Continue reading