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Archaeology Orkney

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Category: Iron Age

Cairns interior
Excavation Iron Age The Cairns

This summer’s dig at The Cairns will be open to the public

This summer’s excavation at The Cairns will be open to the public, with a special open day scheduled for Friday, July 1.

by Sigurd TowrieTuesday, May 10, 2022 (10:26am)Thursday, May 12, 2022 (9:52am)
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The Cairns broch from above. (Bobby Friel)
Iron Age The Cairns

Cairns excavation takes pride of place at Stromness Museum summer exhibition

Our ongoing excavation at The Cairns is the subject of this year’s summer exhibition at the Stromness Museum.

by Sigurd TowrieFriday, May 6, 2022 (7:40am)Friday, May 6, 2022 (7:39am)
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The Cairns broch from above. (Bobby Friel)
Excavation Iron Age The Cairns

Back at The Cairns – excavation dates set for 2022

Excavation will resume at The Cairns this summer – from June 13 until July 8, 2022.

by Sigurd TowrieMonday, March 7, 2022 (8:44am)Tuesday, May 10, 2022 (9:55am)
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Aerial view of The Cairns, South Ronaldsay. (Bobby Friel)
Excavation Iron Age The Cairns

Catch up with The Cairns in Glasgow University’s free online seminar

Archaeology Institute excavations at The Cairns, in South Ronaldsay, will be among the topics covered by the University of Glasgow’s new season of free online seminars.

by Sigurd TowrieFriday, March 4, 2022 (8:32am)Monday, May 2, 2022 (11:10am)
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Picture: Sigurd Towrie
Iron Age Post-excavation Swartigill

The significance of the ‘miniscule’ blue beads from Swartigill

Recent post-excavation work, processing soil samples excavated from Swartigill, has revealed several beautiful and tiny pieces of Iron Age jewellery. Not one, not two, but three blue glass beads!

by Sigurd TowrieMonday, January 31, 2022 (9:00am)Monday, January 31, 2022 (9:16am)
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Iron Age Post-excavation Swartigill

Unravelling the story of an Iron Age site – a Swartigill post-excavation update

With winter upon us, the focus of the Swartigill project has turned towards post-excavation. This is a good opportunity for a recap of what we know about the site as it stands.

by Sigurd TowrieWednesday, December 8, 2021 (1:19pm)Wednesday, February 2, 2022 (9:11am)
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At the site of Cladh Hallan.
Bronze Age Iron Age Neolithic Outreach Seminar

Video: Exploring applications of location-based augmented reality in an island landscape

The recording of October’s UHI Archaeology Institute research seminar, which took place on Friday, October 29, 2021.

by Sigurd TowrieMonday, November 1, 2021 (11:42am)Monday, November 1, 2021 (11:44am)
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Brochtoberfest Iron Age Research The Cairns

Institute’s Brochtoberfest talks available to watch online

The four University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute talks featured in the fifth annual Orkney Archaeology Society Brochtoberfest are now available to view online.

by Sigurd TowrieTuesday, October 19, 2021 (10:48am)Wednesday, October 20, 2021 (10:26am)
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Swartigill site looking West
Iron Age Swartigill

Swartigill in the spotlight at Highland Archaeology Festival

The ongoing excavation at the Burn of Swartigill is the subject of a Highland Archaeology Festival online talk on Monday, October 4.

by Sigurd TowrieSaturday, October 2, 2021 (10:00am)Friday, October 1, 2021 (4:07pm)
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Bronze Age Iron Age Seminar

Video: ‘Out of the Round: Continuity and connection to landscape in hut circle communities’

Hannah Genders Boyd outlines her research on Bronze and Iron Age roundhouse communities in western Scotland and their relationship with the local environment.

by Sigurd TowrieSaturday, September 25, 2021 (9:56am)Saturday, September 25, 2021 (9:57am)
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Excavation Iron Age Swartigill

Swartigill dig diary 2021 – it’s all go as excavation prepares for final few days

Friday greeted us with a misty morning, a fresh foresty smell in the air and the purple heather flowers glimmering with dew as we made our way to the site.

by Sigurd TowrieMonday, September 13, 2021 (8:10am)Monday, September 13, 2021 (8:10am)
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Swartigill site looking West
Excavation Iron Age Swartigill

Scenes from Swartigill – and don’t forget the excavation open day

by Sigurd TowrieFriday, September 10, 2021 (12:48pm)Friday, September 10, 2021 (2:01pm)
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Excavation Iron Age Swartigill

Swartigill dig diary 2021 – sunshine, site tours and brilliant archaeology

As we move through the penultimate week of this year’s dig, the excavations at Swartigill are moving along at a good pace.

by Sigurd TowrieFriday, September 10, 2021 (7:54am)Friday, September 10, 2021 (7:54am)
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Excavation Iron Age Swartigill

Swartigill dig diary 2021 – quern rubber uncovered in Structure A

We were joined on site this morning by some of the pupils from Watten Primary School who were very enthusiastic, and who really enjoyed having the opportunity to get involved and take part in their first archaeological dig.

by Sigurd TowrieWednesday, September 8, 2021 (9:34am)Wednesday, September 8, 2021 (9:34am)
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Excavation Iron Age Swartigill

Swartigill dig diary 2021 – view from the trenches

The tenth day of the 2021 excavation at the Burn of Swartigill started with a perfect blue morning. Going to “work” was a pleasure.

by Sigurd TowrieMonday, September 6, 2021 (7:42am)Wednesday, September 8, 2021 (9:35am)
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Swartigill Excavation Diary Header
Excavation Iron Age Outreach Swartigill

Swartigill dig diary 2021 – visiting schoolchildren see archaeologists in action

Today was the first of many visits by the local schools. The first of the season this year was the P6-7 class of Lybster Primary. The class was first shown around the site and introduced to Iron Age Swartigill Burn. Alannah Edwards reports…

by Sigurd TowrieWednesday, September 1, 2021 (3:52pm)Wednesday, September 8, 2021 (9:37am)
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Swartigill excavation, Caithness
Excavation Iron Age Swartigill

Swartigill dig diary 2021 – a very productive day on site

It was a somewhat fresh, cool start to the morning today which, despite the contrast to last week’s glorious sunshine, has not dampened the spirits of the team. Holly Young reports…

by Sigurd TowrieTuesday, August 31, 2021 (8:10am)Tuesday, August 31, 2021 (8:29am)
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Excavation Iron Age Swartigill

Burn of Swartigill excavation 2021 – week one update

We are one week into this season’s excavation at the Burn of Swartigill, Caithness, and it’s time for an update on progress on site.

by Sigurd TowrieMonday, August 30, 2021 (11:05am)Wednesday, September 8, 2021 (10:17am)
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Archaeology Orkney

University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute blog.

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University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute, Orkney College UHI, East Road, Kirkwall. KW15 1LX
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