ORCA involved in discovery of possible Viking-era church on Swona
Archaeologists from the Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA) have helped uncover what could be a 1,000-year-old Viking church on the island of Swona.
Pondering the future of Orcadian dialect at science festival event
Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon teams up with Dr Tom Rendall to ponder the future of Orcadian dialect in an Orkney Science Festival event in Kirkwall this afternoon, Thursday, September 3.
Focus on traditional Orkney food on opening day of 2026 science festival
The 2026 Orkney International Science Festival gets under way tomorrow, with an event in UHI Orkney looking at traditional food in the county.
Orkney Energy Trail website now live
A new website looking at Orkney’s role in changing energy supplies over the centuries has been launched.
Raggie talks Norn in latest Robwords language podcast
Dr Ragnhild Ljosland features in the latest Robwords podcast, looking at ‘What happened to Britain’s Viking language?’
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.
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.
Final week to apply for North Sea Heritage project’s funded PhDs
Eleven funded PhD projects are now available as part of the  North Sea Heritage in Transitions (NHT), which launched last month.
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.
Coast & Cairn exhibition in Stromness
An exhibition by Jemima Hall, part of her MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology final project, runs at the Clook Gallery, Stromness, from September 12 -16.
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.
Second Orkney Archaeology Festival programme now online
The programme for the second Orkney Archaeology Festival (September 9-13) is now available online.
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.
Outstanding archaeology undergrad is UHI Orkney Student of the Year
UHI Orkney has named Katie Joss as its Student of the Year in recognition of her academic achievement, dedication and resilience throughout her studies.
Dig diary – final week at Skaill, Rousay
An update on the final week of excavation from Dan Lee.
Undergraduate archaeology places available through UCAS clearing
UHI Archaeology Institute is offering places to study on the Archaeology BA (Hons), Archaeology Joint Honours BA (Hons), Archaeological Sciences BSc (Hons) and Archaeological and Environmental Sciences BSc (Hons) through UCAS Clearing 2026.