Spurness 2025 – dig diary day one
Day one of our excavation in Sanday – and it was a day of deturfing and cleaning.
Category: Neolithic
3D model of the Spurness prehistoric structures
A 3d model from Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark showing the Bronze Age structures in Spurness, Sanday, under excavation in 2018.
Back to Sanday to investigate the Neolithic-Bronze Age transition
A team from the UHI Archaeology Institute is back in Sanday to continue excavating a Neolithic/Bronze Age site.
Link: Gianluca focusing on Neolithic food preparation for MRes degree
UHI Archaeology Institute MRes student Gianluca Marzagalli outlines his research into the animal remains from the Ness of Brodgar’s Structure Twelve in relation to the preparation of food.
Video: Neolithic Orkney at Archaeological Research in Progress conference
The recordings of two talks from the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Archaeological Research in Progress 2025 conference in Edinburgh on May 3, 2025.
New report on 1985 chambered cairn excavation dedicated to lead archaeologist
ORCA has published a report of the 1985 re-excavation of the Vinquoy chambered cairn, dedicating it to the late Jacqui Marwick, who led the operation.
Institute director back in front of the TV cameras for new documentary
UHI Archaeology Institute director Professor Jane Downes was back in front the the TV cameras this week. She was joined by actor Jason Watkins and historian Tracy Borman at the Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae for a forthcoming Channel Five documentary.
Video: Blomuir chambered cairn update at archaeology society talk
The recording of the Orkney Archaeology Society (OAS) talk in which Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark gave an update on the 2024 excavation season at the Blomuir chambered cairn, Holm, Orkney.
West Mainland excursion explores Neolithic and Bronze Age sites
A busload of archaeology students were in Orkney’s West Mainland on Tuesday for a tour of Neolithic and Bronze Age sites that took them well off the beaten path.
Latest SCARF newsletter puts postgraduate students’ research in the spotlight
Research by two of our postgraduate students features in the latest edition of the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (SCARF) newsletter.
Video: ‘Mysteries of Prehistoric Scotland’ series now available to all
There’s a veritable cornucopia of institute faces in a 2022 documentary series on prehistoric Scotland now available to view online.
Views sought on the future of the ‘Heart of Neolithic Orkney’
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and Orkney Islands Council (OIC) are looking for feedback on the draft management plan for the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.
Ness of Brodgar online talk this afternoon as part of North Ronaldsay Science Festival
As part of the 2025 North Ronaldsay Science Festival, Ness of Brodgar site director Nick Card is giving a free, online talk this afternoon.
Crowdfunder to reopen the Tomb of the Eagles gets under way
The community of South Ronaldsay has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise cash to reopen the Isbister chambered cairn to the public.
Link: At the cutting edge in Orkney – axes from the Ness of Brodgar
An update from Dr Patrick Nørskov Pedersen, who has been examining the Ness of Brodgar axe assemblage, as well as examples from other Neolithic sites in Orkney, as part of his postdoc project, At the Cutting Edge (‘ACE’): The Biographies of Orcadian Neolithic Axes.
Link: Fuel for the fires? Burnt bone analysis at the Ness of Brodgar
An update from UHI Archaeology Institute MRes student Jackson Clark on his research into the burnt animal bone from Structure Eight at the Ness of Brodgar.
Tombs of the Isles – Rowiegar updated to include link to new human remains research paper
We’ve updated the entry for Rousay’s Knowe of Rowiegar to include a link to new research suggesting human remains were placed in the Neolithic cairn at different stages of decomposition.
Link: Excavating the central hearth in the Ness of Brodgar’s Structure Five
UHI Archaeology Institute PhD candidate Sarah-Jane Haston on her experience of excavating Structure Five’s central hearth in 2024.