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Sigurd Towrie

Click Mill, Harray. (πŸ“· Gareth Talbot)
ORCA Orkney Energy Landcapes

Orkney Energy Trail website now live

A new website looking at Orkney’s role in changing energy supplies over the centuries has been launched.

By Sigurd TowrieTuesday, September 1, 2026 (10:37am)Tuesday, September 1, 2026 (10:37am)
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(πŸ“· Robwords)
Viking/Norse

Raggie talks Norn in latest Robwords language podcast

Dr Ragnhild Ljosland features in the latest Robwords podcast, looking at ‘What happened to Britain’s Viking language?’

By Sigurd TowrieMonday, August 31, 2026 (10:52am)Monday, August 31, 2026 (10:52am)
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The circular building unearthed during the 2026 Ness of Brodgar excavation.
Archaeobotany Neolithic Ness of Brodgar Outreach Zooarchaeology

Dig into the Ness as part of 2026 Orkney Science Festival

‘Ness Day’ is just one of many events on the horizon as part of the Orkney Science Festival and Orkney Archaeology Festival.

By Sigurd TowrieThursday, August 27, 2026 (11:43am)Thursday, August 27, 2026 (11:43am)
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Stormy Barley Field
AEONS Archaeobotany Neolithic Ness of Brodgar Research

Ness plant remains project benefits from national RICHeS funding programme

A project to assess carbonised plant remains from the Ness of Brodgar is one of 43 to receive funding through the first Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) Access Fund.

By Sigurd TowrieWednesday, August 26, 2026 (10:58am)Thursday, August 27, 2026 (11:51am)
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Frances Walker, Clashach Cove (North Sea Glimpses), 1996, lithograph and screenprint, 46.3 x 61.5 cm. Peacock Archive, Aberdeen Archives, Galleries & Museums. Β© Frances Walker (2007)
Art & Archaeology Postgraduate Research

Final week to apply for North Sea Heritage project’s funded PhDs

Eleven funded PhD projects are now available as part of the Β North Sea Heritage in Transitions (NHT), which launched last month.

By Sigurd TowrieMonday, August 24, 2026 (9:48am)Tuesday, August 25, 2026 (9:41am)
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The 'hornwork' projecting from the northern exterior end of the cairn. (πŸ“· Sigurd Towrie)
Excavation Neolithic ORCA

Three-week excavation at South Ronaldsay’s Tomb of the Eagles begins Monday

An ORCA team will be carrying out excavations around the Tomb of the Eagles in South Ronaldsay from August 24-September 11.

By Sigurd TowrieFriday, August 21, 2026 (11:44am)Friday, August 21, 2026 (11:44am)
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Coast & Cairn featured image
Art & Archaeology Postgraduate Student Stories

Coast & Cairn exhibition in Stromness

An exhibition by Jemima Hall, part of her MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology final project, runs at the Clook Gallery, Stromness, from September 12 -16.

By Sigurd TowrieThursday, August 20, 2026 (9:45am)Thursday, August 20, 2026 (9:45am)
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(πŸ“· Colin Richards)
Bronze Age Excavation Neolithic Northern Exposure Sanday

Dig diary – looking forward to the 2027 season at Spurness

The Spurness excavation in Sanday draws to a close but we’re looking forward to getting back next year.

By Sigurd TowrieFriday, August 14, 2026 (11:55pm)Saturday, August 15, 2026 (12:01am)
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(πŸ“· Jane Downes)
Bronze Age Excavation Neolithic Northern Exposure Sanday

Dig diary – an enigmatic stone artefact

Photographs of the stone artefact recovered from the wall of the Spurness Early Neolithic building.

By Sigurd TowrieThursday, August 13, 2026 (10:55pm)Friday, August 14, 2026 (8:02am)
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The side ambries within the structure. (πŸ“· Jane Downes)
Bronze Age Excavation Neolithic Northern Exposure Sanday

Dig diary – a wealth of discoveries makes for a perfect day on site

Today’s update from Spurness, Sanday, by Professor Colin Richards.

By Sigurd TowrieWednesday, August 12, 2026 (7:59pm)Wednesday, August 12, 2026 (10:41pm)
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(πŸ“· Paul Clarke)
Bronze Age Excavation Neolithic Northern Exposure Sanday

Dig diary – drone views of Spurness building(s)

Today’s update from Spurness, Sanday, showing the scale of the monumental Early Neolithic building.

By Sigurd TowrieTuesday, August 11, 2026 (11:20pm)Wednesday, August 12, 2026 (7:45pm)
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(πŸ“· Jane Downes)
Bronze Age Excavation Neolithic Northern Exposure Sanday

Dig diary – Monumental Neolithic discovery at Spurness

More divisional orthostats suggests Early Neolithic building was more monumental than first believed.

By Sigurd TowrieMonday, August 10, 2026 (9:58pm)Monday, August 10, 2026 (9:58pm)
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The front area and entrance to the Isbister cairn. (πŸ“· Sigurd Towrie)
News Outreach

Second Orkney Archaeology Festival programme now online

The programme for the second Orkney Archaeology Festival (September 9-13) is now available online.

By Sigurd TowrieMonday, August 10, 2026 (2:07pm)Monday, August 10, 2026 (2:07pm)
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Spurness drone shot.
Bronze Age Excavation Neolithic Northern Exposure Sanday

Update on Spurness open day plans

Tomorrow’s open day at the Spurness excavation site in Sanday is going ahead with tours planned every 30 minutes. The site will be open from 10am until 4pm.

By Sigurd TowrieFriday, August 7, 2026 (10:14pm)Friday, August 7, 2026 (10:16pm)
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Katie and the carved stone head.
Student Stories Undergraduate

Outstanding archaeology undergrad is UHI Orkney Student of the Year

UHI Orkney has named Katie Joss as its Student of the Year in recognition of her academic achievement, dedication and resilience throughout her studies.

By Sigurd TowrieThursday, August 6, 2026 (10:09am)Tuesday, August 25, 2026 (11:55am)
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Trenches 19 and 20. (πŸ“· Lindsey Kemp)
Excavation Rousay Skaill Farm Viking/Norse

Dig diary – final week at Skaill, Rousay

An update on the final week of excavation from Dan Lee.

By Sigurd TowrieWednesday, August 5, 2026 (6:24pm)Wednesday, August 5, 2026 (6:24pm)
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Deturfing Trench Z. (πŸ“· Jo Bourne)
Courses Undergraduate

Undergraduate archaeology places available through UCAS clearing

UHI Archaeology Institute is offering places to study on the Archaeology BA (Hons), Archaeology Joint Honours BA (Hons), Archaeological Sciences BSc (Hons) and Archaeological and Environmental Sciences BSc (Hons) through UCAS Clearing 2026.

By Sigurd TowrieTuesday, August 4, 2026 (2:56pm)Tuesday, August 4, 2026 (2:56pm)
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(πŸ“· Jane Downes)
Bronze Age Excavation Neolithic Northern Exposure Sanday

Spurness 2026 – day 12

Back on site, we’ve got a side door to the Early Neolithic structure.

By Sigurd TowrieMonday, August 3, 2026 (9:40pm)Monday, August 3, 2026 (9:40pm)
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(πŸ“· Holly Young)
Bronze Age Excavation Neolithic Northern Exposure Sanday

Spurness 2026 – day nine

A day of enlightenment, with several things that were difficult to interpret began to make sense.

By Sigurd TowrieWednesday, July 29, 2026 (11:45pm)Thursday, July 30, 2026 (9:14am)
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(πŸ“· Holly Young)
Bronze Age Excavation Neolithic Northern Exposure Sanday

Spurness 2026 – day eight

An exceptional day, but not entirely for the expected reasons.

By Sigurd TowrieTuesday, July 28, 2026 (8:52pm)Tuesday, July 28, 2026 (9:57pm)
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Archaeology Orkney

UHI Archaeology Institute

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

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