The Ness of Brodgar Project

Buildings through time: Structure Five

Friday, December 4, 2020

For the last in our series looking at the excavation of each major building on site over time, we turn to Trench J and Structure Five – the earliest building uncovered on site so far.

Overhead view of Structures Five and Thirty-Two with highlighted elements. Phasing has been simplified in this diagram and only shows original wall faces (black) and certain later editions (blue). (📷 Paul Durdin)
Structure Five has a staggered excavation history. It was first encountered in 2006 but the trench was closed in 2008 and re-opened again in 2017. He were see the backfill being removed in July 2008. (📷 ORCA)
2008: The northern end of Structure Five emerging from Trench J (left) alongside the curving section of the ‘Great Wall of Brodgar’. (📷 ORCA)
Structure Five, represented by the elliptical wall section in the centre of the picture, at the end of the 2008 season. (📷 Craig Taylor)
2017: After nine years under the covers, Trench J was re-opened in 2017. Structure Five is pictured at the start of the season after the removal of the backfill. (Scott Pike)
2017: After nine years under the covers, Trench J was re-opened in 2017. Structure Five is pictured at the start of the season after the removal of the backfill. (📷 Scott Pike)
2017: Structure Five and the 'Great Wall' at the end of the excavation season. (Scott Pike)
2017: Structure Five and the ‘Great Wall’ at the end of the excavation season. (📷 Scott Pike)
2018: Trench J was extended to take in the western end of Structure Five - pictured here to the right. (Scott Pike)
2018: Trench J was extended to take in the western end of Structure Five – pictured here to the right. (📷 Scott Pike)
2018: Drone shot of Structure Five at the end of the excavation season. The later Structure Thirty-Two is beginning to emerge, on top of Structure Five, to the left of the picture. (Scott Pike)
2018: Orthostatic views generated from the end-of-season 3D models. The later Structure Thirty-Two is beginning to emerge, on top of Structure Five, to the left of the picture.
2019: Structure Five and the 'Great Wall' at the end of the season. (Scott Pike)
2019: Structure Five and the ‘Great Wall’ at the end of the season. (📷 Scott Pike)
2023: Structure Five and the 'Great Wall'. (📷 Tom O'Brien)
2023: Structure Five and the ‘Great Wall’. (📷 Tom O’Brien)

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