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Archaeology Orkney

UHI Archaeology Institute

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Looking across the broch interior and the main hearth of the west room. (📷 Rick Barton)
Excavation Iron Age The Cairns

The Cairns dig diary – day 11

By Sigurd Towrie Monday, June 22, 2026 (9:40pm)Tuesday, June 23, 2026 (9:24am)
HMS Tern control tower. (📷 Julia Cussans)
Orkney

Experiencing wartime Orkney on staff visit to HMS Tern airbase

By Sigurd Towrie Friday, June 19, 2026 (10:43am)Monday, June 22, 2026 (9:39am)
Structure B2 from above

The Cairns dig diary – day nine

By Sigurd Towrie Thursday, June 18, 2026 (7:49pm)Tuesday, June 23, 2026 (9:20am)

The Cairns dig diary – day eight

By Sigurd Towrie Wednesday, June 17, 2026 (9:30pm)Thursday, June 18, 2026 (9:23am)

Art and architecture at the Ness – talk on Thursday by Antonia Thomas

By Sigurd Towrie Wednesday, June 17, 2026 (9:25am)Wednesday, June 17, 2026 (9:33am)
Emma excavating the central hearth of Structure B2. (📷 Martin Carruthers)
Excavation Iron Age The Cairns

The Cairns dig diary – day seven

Today’s update from The Cairns by MLitt student Martin Carfrae.

By Sigurd TowrieTuesday, June 16, 2026 (7:36pm)Tuesday, June 16, 2026 (7:36pm)
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Becoming Island (📷 Susan Pearson)
Art & Archaeology Postgraduate Student Stories

MA student selected for Shetland-Norway residency

MA Contempoary Art and Archaeology student Susan Pearson is in Norway after being selected for the 2026 Brig∂i Residency.

By Sigurd TowrieTuesday, June 16, 2026 (12:44pm)Tuesday, June 16, 2026 (12:45pm)
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Excavation Iron Age The Cairns

The Cairns dig diary – day six

A day of preparation, cleaning and recording – an update from MSc Archaeological Practice student Elspeth Palmer.

By Sigurd TowrieMonday, June 15, 2026 (9:22pm)Tuesday, June 23, 2026 (9:21am)
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Elevated view of the broach interior-image. (📷 Iain Healey)
Excavation Iron Age The Cairns

The Cairns dig diary – day five

A update on the first week of the 2026 excavation season from dig director Martin Carruthers.

By Sigurd TowrieSunday, June 14, 2026 (10:25am)Tuesday, June 23, 2026 (9:22am)
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(📷 Martin Carruthers)
Excavation Iron Age The Cairns

The Cairns dig diary – day four

Today’s excavation update from MSc Archaeological Practice student Declan.

By Sigurd TowrieFriday, June 12, 2026 (7:27pm)Friday, June 12, 2026 (7:27pm)
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(📷 Ragnhild Ljosland)
Publications Research

New paper explores family origin legends in Orkney

Dr Ragnhild Ljosland’s new paper examining family origin legends from Orkney is now available online.

By Sigurd TowrieFriday, June 12, 2026 (11:30am)Friday, June 12, 2026 (9:45am)
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Southampton map extract
Art & Archaeology Postgraduate Student Stories

‘feel’ at Southampton’s Old Sail Loft

Artist Lucie Smith, who is currently studying for an MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology, will be leading ‘feel – an afternoon of conversation, listening, and collective making tomorrow, Saturday, June 13, at The Old Sail Loft, Southampton.

By Sigurd TowrieFriday, June 12, 2026 (9:41am)Friday, June 12, 2026 (9:41am)
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TRANSECTS Zooarchaeology

Talking whales at Arctic Congress

At the end of May, Associate Professor Jen Harland took part in a roundtable discussion at the Arctic Congress in the Faroe Islands. 

By Sigurd TowrieThursday, June 11, 2026 (10:29am)Tuesday, June 16, 2026 (12:30pm)
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(📷 Martin Carruthers)
Excavation Iron Age The Cairns

The Cairns dig diary – day three

UHI Archaeology Institute student Alex updates us on the latest dig news.

By Sigurd TowrieWednesday, June 10, 2026 (7:28pm)Wednesday, June 10, 2026 (7:28pm)
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(📷 Dan Lee)
Research TRANSECTS

Share your Fittie energy stories at events on June 19 and 20

Join the TRANSECTS project team and artist Kirsty Russell to explore community energy stories for Fittie and Aberdeen Harbour at storylines workshops on June 19/20.

By Sigurd TowrieWednesday, June 10, 2026 (12:07pm)Wednesday, June 10, 2026 (10:10am)
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(📷 Martin Carruthers)
Excavation Iron Age The Cairns

The Cairns dig diary – day two

Good progress across the site in sunny, bright conditions.

By Sigurd TowrieTuesday, June 9, 2026 (9:09pm)Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (9:09pm)
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Conference Iron Age Research

‘Roads to the North’ – conference explored Roman influence on northern Scotland

Associate Professor Scott Timpany looks back at last month’s “Roads to the North” conference in Stirling.

By Sigurd TowrieTuesday, June 9, 2026 (10:19am)Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (10:33am)
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The site largely cleared of plastic covers and tyres. (📷 Iain Healey)
Excavation Iron Age The Cairns

The Cairns dig diary – day one

Back on site and getting everything ready for this season’s excavation.

By Sigurd TowrieMonday, June 8, 2026 (8:41pm)Tuesday, June 23, 2026 (9:22am)
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The UHI Archaeology Institute were delighted to welcome Professor Charles French,  Professor Emeritus in Geoarchaeology at University of Cambridge, last week.
AEONS

AEONS advice from Professor Charles French during visit to Orkney

The UHI Archaeology Institute was delighted to welcome Professor Charles French,  Professor Emeritus in Geoarchaeology at University of Cambridge, last week.

By Sigurd TowrieMonday, June 8, 2026 (9:44am)Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (10:30am)
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ICMS Featured Image
Postgraduate Research Student Stories

Looking back at 2026’s international medieval congress in the USA

A guest post by Sophie Durbin, UHI Archaeology Institute PhD student, on her recent ICMS conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

By Sigurd TowrieSunday, June 7, 2026 (11:50am)Sunday, June 7, 2026 (11:50am)
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Picture: Tom O'Brien
Excavation Iron Age The Cairns

Back to South Ronaldsay as The Cairns gets dig season under way

Our excavation season gets under way on Monday when a team of diggers return to The Cairns Iron Age site in South Ronaldsay, Orkney.

By Sigurd TowrieFriday, June 5, 2026 (8:30am)Thursday, June 4, 2026 (11:34am)
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Marine turbines. (📷 Nicholas Doherty)
Research TRANSECTS

Coastal communities at risk of effects of repeating cycles of inequality in marine energy transition

A new report is warning that current governance arrangements may leave coastal communities bearing the cost of energy transition while seeing limited long-term benefits.

By Sigurd TowrieThursday, June 4, 2026 (12:09pm)Thursday, June 4, 2026 (12:11pm)
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Ballan-ionnlaide Chumaraidh | 17.8cm x 25.4cm mixed media on paper 2026
Art & Archaeology Postgraduate Student Stories

‘Suðreyjar | Innse Gall’ – exhibition of new work by Eòghann Mac Colla

Eòghann Mac Colla, who is in the final stages of the MA Contemporary Art & Archaeology, is currently exhibiting at the Hunter Saville Gallery in the Isle of Cumbrae.

By Sigurd TowrieThursday, June 4, 2026 (11:00am)Thursday, June 4, 2026 (11:00am)
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(📷 Sigurd Towrie)
Courses Postgraduate Undergraduate

Archaeology and Local Studies short course open to applications

If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the archaeology of your area, and archaeology generally, applications are now open for September and January entry to the Archaeology and Local Studies short course. 

By Sigurd TowrieWednesday, June 3, 2026 (8:22am)Tuesday, June 2, 2026 (10:43am)
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Setting up at the coring site. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)
Archaeobotany Postgraduate Student Stories Undergraduate

Hill and shore – coring gives students a glimpse of Orkney’s prehistoric landscape

The annual, two-week practical environmental archaeology module drew to a close on Friday with a field trip focusing on coring.

By Sigurd TowrieMonday, June 1, 2026 (11:31am)Tuesday, June 2, 2026 (11:15am)
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Older posts

2026 Dig Dates

  • The Cairns, South Ronaldsay: Monday, June 8 – Friday, July 17. Open day on Friday, July 10.
  • Skaill farm, Rousay: Monday, July 6 – Friday, July 24. Open day on Saturday, July 18.
  • Spurness, Sanday: Sunday, July 19 – Friday, August 14.
  • Ness of Brodgar, Stenness: Open to visitors, on weekdays, between Tuesday, July 7, and Thursday, July 30.

Step into the past with us…

https://youtu.be/mhQA6z3pKOU

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  • The Cairns dig diary - day 11. Today's update from UHI Archaeology Institute graduate Bev Rose.
    21 hours ago
  • Last Friday, June 12, UHI Archaeology Institute staff took a morning fieldtrip to HMS Tern in Birsay, also known as Royal Naval Air Station Twatt.
    4 days ago
  • Craig and the stone “lamp” (or food vessel) he found in Structure O at The Cairns Iron Age site. Today’s dig diary is now online at archaeologyorkney.com (📷 Holly Young)
    6 days ago
  • The Cairns dig diary is now online, with today's update coming from MLitt student Martin Carfrae.
    7 days ago
The Cairns dig diary - day 11. Today's update from UHI Archaeology Institute graduate Bev Rose.
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The Cairns dig diary - day 11. Today's update from UHI Archaeology Institute graduate Bev Rose.
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Last Friday, June 12, UHI Archaeology Institute staff took a morning fieldtrip to HMS Tern in Birsay, also known as Royal Naval Air Station Twatt.
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Last Friday, June 12, UHI Archaeology Institute staff took a morning fieldtrip to HMS Tern in Birsay, also known as Royal Naval Air Station Twatt.
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Craig and the stone “lamp” (or food vessel) he found in Structure O at The Cairns Iron Age site. Today’s dig diary is now online at archaeologyorkney.com (📷 Holly Young)
Craig and the stone “lamp” (or food vessel) he found in Structure O at The Cairns Iron Age site. Today’s dig diary is now online at archaeologyorkney.com (📷 Holly Young)
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Craig and the stone “lamp” (or food vessel) he found in Structure O at The Cairns Iron Age site. Today’s dig diary is now online at archaeologyorkney.com (📷 Holly Young)
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The Cairns dig diary is now online, with today's update coming from MLitt student Martin Carfrae.
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The Cairns dig diary is now online, with today's update coming from MLitt student Martin Carfrae.
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MSc Environmental Archaeology starting September 2026
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    The Cairns dig diary - day 11
  • The Cairns dig diary - day nine
    The Cairns dig diary - day nine
  • Experiencing wartime Orkney on staff visit to HMS Tern airbase
    Experiencing wartime Orkney on staff visit to HMS Tern airbase
  • Study online and gain an archaeology degree anywhere in the world
    Study online and gain an archaeology degree anywhere in the world
  • The Cairns dig diary - day one
    The Cairns dig diary - day one
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    The Cairns dig diary - day eight
  • Back to South Ronaldsay as The Cairns gets dig season under way
    Back to South Ronaldsay as The Cairns gets dig season under way
  • The Cairns dig diary - day six
    The Cairns dig diary - day six
TRANSECTS

The Cairns

The Ness of Brodgar

Skaill, Rousay

Swartigill, Caithness

Tombs of the Isles Project

Industrial Heritage of the North Isles

Gaan Nort - An Oral History of Orkney's North Isles

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Archaeology Orkney

UHI Archaeology Institute

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Contact Us

UHI Archaeology Institute, UHI Orkney, East Road, Kirkwall. KW15 1LX
(01856) 569000
sigurd.towrie@uhi.ac.uk
8am-5pm. Monday to Friday

Links

  • UHI Archaeology Institute website
  • Ness of Brodgar Excavation
  • Ness of Brodgar Facebook
  • The Cairns excavation Facebook
  • Working Stone – the prehistoric stone tools of Orkney
  • Orkney Archaeology Society
  • Orkney.com

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  • The Cairns dig diary - day nine
  • Experiencing wartime Orkney on staff visit to HMS Tern airbase
  • The Cairns
  • Study online and gain an archaeology degree anywhere in the world
  • The chambered cairns of Orkney
  • Study archaeology with us online and gain a degree anywhere in the world