The Cairns dig diary – day 11
Today’s update from UHI Archaeology Institute graduate Bev Rose.
Category: Excavation
The Cairns dig diary – day nine
The importance of charcoal – today’s update from site director Martin Carruthers.
The Cairns dig diary – day eight
Today’s update from The Cairns by site director Martin Carruthers.
The Cairns dig diary – day seven
Today’s update from The Cairns by MLitt student Martin Carfrae.
The Cairns dig diary – day six
A day of preparation, cleaning and recording – an update from MSc Archaeological Practice student Elspeth Palmer.
The Cairns dig diary – day five
A update on the first week of the 2026 excavation season from dig director Martin Carruthers.
The Cairns dig diary – day four
Today’s excavation update from MSc Archaeological Practice student Declan.
The Cairns dig diary – day three
UHI Archaeology Institute student Alex updates us on the latest dig news.
The Cairns dig diary – day two
Good progress across the site in sunny, bright conditions.
The Cairns dig diary – day one
Back on site and getting everything ready for this season’s excavation.
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.
A reminder of this summer’s dig dates
Now that we’re back in British Summer Time (although a glance out the window would cast doubt on that) a reminder of the planned excavation work for the summer of 2026:
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.