Spurness 2026 – dig diary day two
An exciting day on site – it seems out Neolithic structure might be bigger than we thought.
Category: Neolithic
Spurness 2026 – dig diary day one
We’re back in Sanday to resume excavation of a wonderful Neolithic structure overlooking the Bay of Stove.
Back to Sanday to continue excavating Spurness Neolithic structure
We’re back in Sanday this week, with excavations resuming at a prehistoric site at Spurness on Sunday.
Orkney premiere of Ness of Brodgar Time Team special on Friday
The 75‑minute Time Team Special filmed during the final full season of excavation at the Ness of Brodgar in 2024 has its world premiere in Orkney on Friday, July 3.
Art and architecture at the Ness – talk on Thursday by Antonia Thomas
The decorated stones from the Ness of Brodgar excavation are the subject of an Orkney Archaeology Society talk by Associate Professor Antonia Thomas on June 18.
Publication and funding success for PhD student
Sophie Durbin, a UHI Archaeology Institute PhD student, has published an article in a special edition of Different Visions, which puts forward a novel approach to Orkney’s Norse and Neolithic archaeology through the lens of post-modern performance.
Talking rock art with Antonia…
Dr Antonia Thomas features in a new Time Team video on prehistoric rock art, contrasting that found on Ilkley Moor with the Neolithic carvings in Orkney and the Ness of Brodgar.
Institute director talks Neolithic Orkney in new Stonehenge TV programme
UHI Archaeology Institute director Professor Jane Downes features in a new television programme looking at the Stonehenge Altar Stone.
Online survey to help shape how the story of Orkney’s Neolithic is told
Would you like help to shape how the story of Orkney’s Neolithic is told? If so, UHI Archaeology Institute PhD student Cameron Taylor would like your input via an online survey.
Link: Time Team dig plans at Ness of Brodgar confirmed for 2026
A small team of diggers will return to the Ness of Brodgar in 2026, following a major programme of geophysical survey across the site.
Tomb of the Eagles’ welcome return to our fieldtrip schedule
Friday afternoon saw a field trip to the recently re-opened “Tomb of the Eagles”, led by Professor Colin Richards.
At the Knowes of Trotty with Jane
Some photographs of Saturday’s excursions to the Knowes of Trotty as part of the first Orkney Archaeology Festival.
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.
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.
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.
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!