Dig Diary – that’s all folks (except for two final Ness ‘butterflies’)

Friday, August 16, 2024

The end of an era. Jim removes the 'Open to the Public' sign from the gate for the last time. (📷 Jo Bourne) — The end of an era. Jim removes the ‘Open to the Public’ sign from the gate for the last time. (📷 Jo Bourne)

Day Forty-Two
Friday, August 16, 2024

That’s all folks – the 2024 excavation season at the Ness of Brodgar is now over and with it our fieldwork phase.

It might have been emotional day but it was also a busy one, as we finalised dig paperwork, context sheets, plans, section drawing and all the rest that comes along with a research excavation.

The 20,000th visitor of the 2024 season, Fiona Stuart, from Stroud. Also pictured is site director Nick, James Stuart, Patricia Heser (London) and Michelle Good (Southampton). (📷 Jo Bourne)

Our 20,000th visitor of 2024 was welcomed on site before we hosted the last ever tours of the site. At close of play, dig director Nick gathered all the dig team together for a poignant word of thanks before passing round glasses of traditional Orcadian cog to mark the occasion (thanks Jeanne).

Sigurd with his last tour group outside Structure Eight this afternoon. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)

Then it was time to bid farewell to old and new friends…

…no “see you next year” this time.

“We’ve done it.” Co-directors Mark and Anne at the end of our last digging day on site. (📷 Jo Bourne)

That’s the thing about the Ness. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked this summer whether I’d be sad to see the buildings covered over. But while that does factor in, it’s probably overshadowed by the fact that all the people you have worked alongside for years won’t be back.

People you have met, become friends with and who are now part of the worldwide Ness extended “family”.

That’s the real blow when it sinks in.

Nick would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of the Ness over the years – and that means everyone, diggers, students, meet-and-greeters, shop staff and the finds crew.

We would also like to thank everyone who visited the site, donated, bought from the shop, sponsored-a-square and generally helped make this, our last excavation season, another one to remember.

But we can’t let you all go without updating you on another few star finds!

Michaela by Structure Twenty-Eight's robbed-out buttress, showing where her star find came from. (📷 Sigurd Towrie) — Michaela by Structure Twenty-Eight’s robbed-out buttress, showing where her star find came from. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)

Working in the south-western corner of Structure Twelve, Michaela has been investigating the corner buttress of its predecessor, Twenty-Eight.

Just this morning her dulcet tones could be heard remarking how she’d found nothing this season…

And then a beautiful polished stone axe/adze literally dropped into her hand. It had been laid against the edge of a large stone block that probably formed part of the robbed-out buttress.

A suitably fitting end to her dig season.

2019: A section of the incised flagstone from the Structure Twelve eastern annexe. Click the image for a larger version. (📷 Jo Bourne)

2019: The incised stone slab in the eastern entrance annexe. Click the image for a larger version. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)

2019: Claire and Sigurd reveal the huge incised flagstone. (📷 Jo Bourne)

Elsewhere on site, another beautiful decorated stone emerged – although, technically, it re-emerged because we first found it back in 2019.

Working in Structure Twelve’s eastern annexe – “the corner of loveliness”, as supervisor Jim so aptly named it – Claire and Sigurd revealed a large, decorated slab covered in incisions, including the Ness “butterfly” motif.

Much of the stone’s surface remained covered in midden and because it was overlain by other structural elements it was unable to be removed at the time.

Today, however, those elements were removed and the stone slab extracted.

And when that happened it was clear it had even more decoration, including two more deeply-incised “butterfly” motifs.

A special ending to a special day.

One of today's two 'butterflies' from the Structure Twelve eastern annexe. (📷 Sigurd Towrie) — One of today’s two ‘butterflies’ from the Structure Twelve eastern annexe. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)

And the second... (📷 Sigurd Towrie) — And the second… (📷 Sigurd Towrie)

Gary with the decorated stone in the finds hut. (📷 Jo Bourne)

Although we’ll still be working next week – preparing the trenches for infilling, the site is now closed to visitors.

The digging might be over but post-excavation work continues so keep checking the website for regular news and updates. The first of these will be updates to all the structure pages, incorporating this season’s discoveries.

But for me, it’s now time for a rest.

Thank you all.