A stark reminder why the Ness buildings cannot remain uncovered

Since we announced that 2024 will be the final season of fieldwork, we’ve repeatedly explained why the site must be reburied.

Exposed to the elements, the stone used in the monumental buildings degrades very quickly. Left uncovered, the structures would simply disintegrate and we cannot allow that to happen.

These photographs show the quantity of laminated stone fragments removed from the upper walls of Structure Twelve today. The building was last cleaned at the end of the 2023 season and covered until June 2024. The material in the wheelbarrow is the result of stone degradation since then.

A stark reminder as to why these buildings cannot be left uncovered.

The long-term survival of the archaeology is paramount. Our duty is to protect the site for future generations, who, armed with new techniques and technology, will be able to pick up where we left off.

Re-covering is the only way to preserve it – returning the buildings to the conditions that kept them safe, and preserved, for 5,000 years.