The Cairns dig diary – day 26
The final week of excavation began with great progress across the site.
Papay watermill added to industrial heritage pages
ORCA’s survey of Hookin Mill, Papa Westray, carried out as part of the From Peat Spade to Tangle Trade industrial heritage project, is now online.
The Cairns dig diary – day 25
A busy day on site for the open day, but some important findings and milestones reached too…
The Cairns dig diary – day 24
Another day of finds – including a ring bead, spindle whorl and a ‘secret chamber’.
Jen and Holly among contributors to new Royal Society journal
Dr Jen Harland and PhD student Holly Young are among the contributors in a special issue of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.
The Cairns dig diary – day 23
Today’s update from volunteer digger Emma Feasey.
The Cairns dig diary – day 22
Work continues apace inside and outside the broch and the adjacent souterrain.
Link: Gianluca focusing on Neolithic food preparation for MRes degree
UHI Archaeology Institute MRes student Gianluca Marzagalli outlines his research into the animal remains from the Ness of Brodgar’s Structure Twelve in relation to the preparation of food.
The Cairns dig diary – day 21
The penultimate week of excavation got under way at The Cairns today.
Back in Rousay for three-week excavation at Skaill
Our second dig of the season gets under way today with archaeologists, students and volunteers from the UHI Archaeology Institute back at the multi-period settlement site at Skaill, Rousay.
The Cairns dig diary – day 20
Torrential rain saw excavation cancelled today, so here’s some more images from day 19.
Link: The archaeology of Scotland’s natural larder: shellfish – new article by PhD student Holly Young
UHI Archaeology institute PhD student Holly Young has written an article on shellfish for the DigIt! Scotland blog.
The Cairns dig diary – day 19
The weather caused problems again but not before some nice finds and a surprising discovery from the “cells”.
The Cairns dig diary – day 18
Sunshine and another day replete with finds – including two perforated antler mounts.
The Cairns dig diary – day 17
After weather curtailed work yesterday, the sun shone on The Cairns today.
The Cairns dig diary – day 16
Last time Martin updated us with progress inside the broch. Today we take a look at what lies outside…
Holland farm added to Papay’s industrial heritage page
ORCA’s survey of Holland Farm, Papa Westray, carried out as part of the From Peat Spade to Tangle Trade industrial heritage project, is now online.
Archaeology Institute PhD students lead SGSAH summer school session
Our PhD students Kath Page and Adam Markham led a session for the 2025 SGSAH summer school in Glasgow last week.