Dig dates for 2026 confirmed
The dates for our 2026 excavations have been set.
Category: Excavation
Council’s archaeology fund open for Orkney project applications
Orkney Islands Council’s annual archaeological grant has re-opened for applications, with a deadline of November 30, 2024.
UHI student volunteers at 2025 Blomuir chambered tomb dig
UHI Archaeology Institute students were among the volunteers at the ongoing excavation of a Neolithic chambered cairn in Orkney’s East Mainland.
Remarkable discoveries during week two of Swartigill dig
It’s been another exciting week of excavation at the Iron Age Swartigill site, with some remarkable finds and intriguing developments within the structures.
Hitting the ground running on first week of Swartigill Iron Age dig
A summary of the first week of excavation at Swartigill, Caithness, from director Rick Barton.
New 3d model of the Spurness Neolithic structure
A new model, courtesy of UHI Archaeology Institute PhD student Logan O’Brien, of the Sanday Neolithic structure at the end of the 2025 dig last week.
Skaill farm – final week summary and updated info sheet
The 2025 dig at Skaill farm, Rousay, ended on July 25. Here project co-director Dan Lee provides a summary of the third and final week.
Spurness 2025 – dig diary day twelve
That’s this season’s dig finished, the trench backfilled and we’re beginning to get packed up for the journeys home.
Spurness 2025: dig diary day ten
The penultimate day of excavation saw a buzz across the site as we race to get as much done before backfilling the site on Friday.
Spurness 2025 – dig diary day eight
Our first pottery, an elusive wall section and a spectacular flaked stone adze!
Spurness 2025 – dig diary day seven
The second and final week of this demanding, but rewarding, field season got under way today with a full complement of student diggers and volunteers on site.
Back to Swartigill for eighth season of excavation
We’re back at Swartigill, in Caithness, from August 18 until September 5, to continue excavating a fascinating Iron Age settlement.
Spurness 2025 – open day and talk
We’re hosting an open day at the excavation site and the Sanday Heritage Centre on Sunday, August 10, followed by a talk in the school on Friday, August 15, at 7.30pm.
Spurness 2025 – dig diary day five
The covers are off and the archaeology continues to perplex!
Spurness 2025 – dig diary day four
The bulk of the infill at the western end of the Bronze Age structure is now gone – ready for the covers to come off tomorrow.
Spurness 2025 – dig diary day three
Full steam ahead – deturfing and cleaning continued but the southern wall has emerged.
Spurness 2025 – dig diary day two
Thwarted by Storm Floris! Although the weather saw digging cancelled, there was a chance to see some Sanday archaeology up close.
Spurness 2025 – dig diary day one
Day one of our excavation in Sanday – and it was a day of deturfing and cleaning.