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.
Category: Neolithic
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.
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.
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.
Dig diary – an enigmatic stone artefact
Photographs of the stone artefact recovered from the wall of the Spurness Early Neolithic building.
Dig diary – a wealth of discoveries makes for a perfect day on site
Today’s update from Spurness, Sanday, by Professor Colin Richards.
Dig diary – drone views of Spurness building(s)
Today’s update from Spurness, Sanday, showing the scale of the monumental Early Neolithic building.
Dig diary – Monumental Neolithic discovery at Spurness
More divisional orthostats suggests Early Neolithic building was more monumental than first believed.
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.
Spurness 2026 – day 12
Back on site, we’ve got a side door to the Early Neolithic structure.
Spurness 2026 – day nine
A day of enlightenment, with several things that were difficult to interpret began to make sense.
Spurness 2026 – day eight
An exceptional day, but not entirely for the expected reasons.
Spurness 2026 – day seven
Photographs from day seven in Sanday.
Spurness 2026 – day six
It seems our Early Neolithic building is large – c.19.5 metres long.
Spurness 2026 – day five
Day five at Spurness, Sanday.
Spurness 2026 – day four
Trench cleaning, filming and a couple of great finds.
Spurness 2026 – day three
Deturfing complete, it was time to remove the protective covers…
Spurness 2026 – day two
An exciting day on site – it seems out Neolithic structure might be bigger than we thought.
Spurness 2026 – 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.