2022 excavation at the Ness commended in Scottish Parliament
The debating chamber, Holyrood.
Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament welcoming the successful completion of another excavation season at the Ness of Brodgar.
This is the third time the joint UHI Archaeology Institute and Ness of Brodgar Trust managed project has been acknowledged at Holyrood. The first was in 2011, when the excavation won the Current Archaeology Research Project of the Year.
The motion in full reads:
That the Parliament welcomes the successful season of excavation at the Ness of Brodgar in Orkney in summer 2022; understands that archaeologists from the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and across the world have finished seven weeks of excavation in the first season back since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; notes that the Ness of Brodgar, which is located in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage site, has been under excavation since 2004 and continues to represent one of the most important archaeological excavations in the world, revealing a massive complex of monumental Neolithic buildings dating back to 3000BC; celebrates the new discoveries uncovered in 2022, including some of the earliest stone steps in the UK, a whale vertebra in Structure 5, the impressive masonry of Structure 27 and a number of ornate thumb pots, axeheads, stone inscriptions and spatulas all unique to the Ness; considers that the site has significantly advanced an understanding of the human past and attracts thousands of visitors each year; understands that the project is largely funded through the generosity of the public and supported by the Ness of Brodgar Trust, American Friends of the Ness of Brodgar and University of Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute; commends the volunteers and staff, including the site director, Nick Card, on their hard work and achievements in archaeological research in 2022; thanks them for furthering knowledge and awareness of Neolithic life in Orkney through what it sees as their outstanding and innovative efforts, and wishes the project continued success for the 2023 excavation season, which will mark the 20th anniversary of the discovery of Structure One, and beyond.
Supported by: Karen Adam, Clare Adamson, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Alexander Burnett, Stephanie Callaghan, Finlay Carson, Graeme Dey, Annabelle Ewing, Joe FitzPatrick, Kenneth Gibson, Pam Gosal, Rachael Hamilton, Bill Kidd, Douglas Lumsden, Fulton MacGregor, Stuart McMillan, Edward Mountain, Douglas Ross, Paul Sweeney, Martin Whitfield
