Video: The dead of winter – Maeshowe and the solstice
Today, Saturday, December 21, is the winter solstice - a day inextricably linked to Maeshowe in Stenness. 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.
The centre of their world – a place where heaven, earth and people met
By natural coincidence the Ness of Brodgar peninsula roughly lines up with a solstice axis. Is this one of the reason's the area became a magnet to people for millennia? Read more
Structure Five updated and introducing its predecessor, Structure Forty-One!
Structure Five's entry has been updated to include this season's findings - including details of its timber predecessor, Structure Forty-One. Read more
2024’s top finds – the stone axe that once rivalled our finest
The poorly preserved remains of a once-beautiful polished stone axe were described as one of the Ness' greatest 'might-have-beens'. Read more
Counting cattle – Ness paper presented at Oxford conference
Dr Julia Cussans presented a well-received paper on the animal bone assemblage at the Ness at the 44th Association for Environmental Archaeology conference in Oxford. Read more
2024’s top finds – Ceiridwen’s pair of decorated stones
To find one decorated stone at the Ness was always a notable occasion - imagine finding two, which is what Ceiridwen did this season. Read more
Structure Twenty-Eight updated
Structure Twenty-Eight's entry has been fully updated and rewritten. Read more
The ‘Lesser Wall’ in 3d – a new model compiled from our photo archive
We jump back 14 years for this "new" model of Trench R and the "Lesser Wall of Brodgar". Read more
T-shirts available at LOGO’s Kirkwall shop until stocks run out
Live in Orkney? Want to support the Ness? Read more
2024’s top finds – the ‘butterfly’ stone from Twelve’s eastern annexe
Behind this artefact is a long story, spanning years of excavation at the Ness. Read more
Specialists discuss post-excavation strategy for pottery assemblage
Our pottery specialists gathered this week to discuss the way forward with the site's huge ceramic assemblage. Read more
Egmondshowe and the funerary landscape around Elsness, Sanday
Unpicking the details of a potential chambered cairn in Sanday and the huge barrow cemetery surrounding it. Read more
The jewel in the crown – Structure Twenty-Seven in all its (3d) glory
Get right into the trench and explore the remarkable Structure Twenty-Seven with Paul Durdin's latest 3d model. Read more
2024’s top finds – ‘stamped’ pottery sherd from Structure Forty
A first for the Ness - stamped decoration on a pottery vessel. Read more
Professor Colin Renfrew – the passing of a truly great archaeologist
It was with great sadness that we learnt yesterday of the passing of Professor Lord Colin Renfrew, who has died at the age of 87. Read more
