Focus on finds: small clay balls
Three of the Ness of Brodgar’s small clay balls. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)There have been many puzzling finds over the past 20 years of excavation. Among these are a number of… Read more
Category: Artefacts
Investigating multi-hollowed cobbles in the Orcadian Neolithic
UHI Archaeology Institute MRes student Gary Lloyd outlines his research project looking at multi-hollowed cobbles from the Ness of Brodgar. Read more
2022’s top ten: human remains between Structures Eight and Seventeen
Excavation of an orthostatic box in 2022, introduced an intriguing new element into the relationship between Structures Seventeen and Eight.
The box – which was clearly, given… Read more
2022’s top ten: the whalebone artefact
We remain in Trench J for today’s Top Ten entry.
A short distance to the north-west of the hearth mentioned on Saturday, and securely embedded into the floor of… Read more
2022’s top ten: Trench J’s trio of polished stone axes
In 2022, Trench J maintained its reputation for producing polished stone axes – with three beautiful examples adding to its growing total.
At the start of the season the… Read more
Pitchstone flake brings Ness total to 47
A flake of Arran pitchstone from the analysis of environmental samples from Structure Eight has brought the total from the Ness to 47. Read more
Recollections of working stone: Incised lines – a matter of ambidexterity?
The second account of Ness volunteer Lorraine Clay's foray into experimental archaeology over the summer of 2022. Read more
Recollections of working stone: part one
The first part of Ness volunteer Lorraine Clay's foray into experimental archaeology over the summer of 2022. Read more
Link: Wonderful things hiding in plain sight: art at the Ness of Brodgar
A new blog post on the subject of Neolithic art at the Ness of Brodgar is now available on the Ola Gorie website.
The post, Wonderful things hiding in… Read more
Dig Diary Extra – 3d model of worked whalebone artefact
Trench J supervisor Paul Durdin has worked his photogrammetry magic again, this time creating a 3d model of the whalebone artefact found in the floor of Structure Thirty-Two yesterday.… Read more
New 3d model of Structure Ten’s decorated foundation deposit
This morning we’re premiering a new 3d model from Archaeology Institute UHI postgraduate student Gary Lloyd.The model shows the large, elaborately decorated stone unearthed in Structure Ten in 2013.It had… Read more
Focus on finds: Structure Eight’s whalebone macehead
In 2010, an unusual whalebone macehead was found at the Ness. It was part of a cache of artefacts, which included a polished stone axe and a whale tooth. Read more
Focus on finds: maceheads
There is no doubt that the Ness maceheads are among the most beautiful artefacts found on site - often using spectacular rock specifically selected for its visual impact, and sometimes clearly from outwith Orkney. Read more
Focus on finds: Skaill knives (and how to make them)
“There is one type of stone implement very abundant at Skaill. These are flakes of hard old red sandstone. […] One edge is always thicker than the other, which is… Read more
Focus on finds: the Orkney vole
Vole remains found in Neolithic Orkney suggest the rodents arrived between 3455–3100BC, potentially from Belgium, France, or Spain. Read more
Intensely moved by the human stories at launch of ‘World of Stonehenge’
By Dr Antonia Thomas
Tuesday, February 16, and I’m in London for the first time since 2019.
After more than two years – during which I have hardly left Orkney… Read more
