When Nick Card finishes work on one of the world’s most exciting Neolithic archaeological excavations, he is boarding a plane and flying to Japan to present a paper to the World Archaeology Congress.
The paper is entitled The Ness of Brodgar – What can the past do for our future? and examines the role that archaeology can play in the wider social and economic life of a community.
Nick explained: “Archaeology has always been the linchpin in Orkney’s tourism due to its range of iconic monuments. In recognition of its importance, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site was designated in 1999. This catalogue of outstanding archaeological sites was added to in 2004, with the discovery of the site of the Ness of Brodgar.
“The Ness has subsequently grown to an internationally-recognised excavation, attracting thousands of visitors. The publicity generated not only benefits Orkney’s archaeology, but also Orkney’s wider economy. The Ness is used as a case study to show how the past can directly have relevance for today.”
The congress paper is by invitation and is funded by the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Culture.
