Special guest draws winning petrosphere ticket during Ness visit

To mark the final season of excavation we gave site visitors the chance to win a stunning bronze petrosphere in a prize draw.

The winning ticket, bought by Richard and Jane, from Strathaven, Scotland, was drawn by a special visitor to Ness HQ this week, Professor Alice Roberts. 

Alice was back in Orkney filming elsewhere for a forthcoming episode of the Digging for Britain BBC TV series, but took the chance to stop by the site for a chat with Nick, Anne and Mark.

Nick with Professor Alice Roberts, drawing the winning ticket in our prize draw. (📷 Anne Mitchell)

Inspired by Neolithic carved stone balls and decoration, the petrosphere was created by Orcadian woodturner Michael Sinclair, then cast in bronze using the lost-wax method. It sits on a turned English boxwood stand, also by Michael.

Only ten were made and this was number 10, which Michael donated to the Ness of Brodgar Trust to help raise project funds.

Our thanks to all who took part in the draw over the summer and congratulations to Richard and Jane. Your prize is on the way.