A look at ‘Skaill knives’ – a very common Neolithic stone tool – their use and fabrication.

Nick, and Anne will be discussing all thing Ness of Brodgar in the Maeshowe visitor centre tomorrow, as part of the first Orkney Archaeology Festival.

Maesry is a suspected Maeshowe-type chambered cairn on Start Point – a small tidal island off the north-eastern tip of Sanday.

Recent research has considered the relationship between Stonehenge and sites in south-west Wales, raising questions about whether the first monument at Stonehenge copied the form of an earlier stone circle at Waun Mawn and how the relationship between these sites was connected with the transport of bluestones between the different regions. But Stonehenge and Waun Mawn are not the only prehistoric sites in Britain and Ireland that share architectural elements and hint at social connections across vast distances of land and sea. This debate article explains how the questions raised about these Late Neolithic monuments can and should be applied to other monumental complexes to explore this insular phenomenon.

A short video from Jim Rylatt showing the Stone of Setter in the Eday landscape.

The Stone of Setter, one of Orkney’s most impressive monoliths, towers over a landscape dotted with prehistoric remains at the northern end of Eday.

As of Monday, August 25, and for the immediate future, we can no longer accept and despatch orders to customers in the USA and EU.

Work in Sanday recently gave me the chance to update my photo library - some of which have now been to the Quoyness chambered cairn and Egmondshowe pages.

A 3d model of a substantial Neolithic structure under excavation in Sanday, Orkney.

Excavation revealed the use of coloured pigments in pottery and walls, specifically using haematite for red hues.

A stalled chamber within a substantial cairn - was there a second structure at the northern end?

Our six-week pottery triage project came to an end this afternoon. A big thank-you to all the volunteers who made their way back to Ness HQ to help out.

A walk around the Ness of Brodgar excavation site will take place in September as part of the 2025 Orkney International Science Festival.

A selection of photographs from pottery triage volunteer Ceiridwen Blakesley.

A mixed bag of finds from week five of our ceramics triage project - including a stunning example of decorated Neolithic pottery.

The Ness of Brodgar will be among the projects, sites and topics featuring in September's inaugural Orkney Archaeology Festival.

We're back with UHI Archaeology Institute MRes student Gianluca Marzagalli, for more on his ongoing research into food preparation in Structure Twelve.

The DSR for the 2010 season of excavation is now available to download.

“Excavation disclosed, not an ‘Erd House’, as stated, but a neolithic burial cairn of very remarkable construction, since it contained two separate, but contemporary, chambers disposed in an unusual manner one above the other.” Charles Calder. Excavations of Three Neolithic Chambered Cairns in the Islands of Eday and the Calf of Eday, in Orkney. (1938)

UHI Archaeology Institute MRes student outlines his research into the animal remains from Structure Twelve in relation to the preparation of food.

Time Team’s ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey of the Ness excavation is done and dusted.

At the end of day one of Time Team's ground penetrating radar survey of the Ness site the results have already surpassed John Gater's expectations.

Week two of the pottery triage project also saw Time Team's Dr John Gater back on site...

Our two-week project to geophysically survey the entire Ness excavation site came to a successful end last Friday – with some very interesting preliminary results.

View details and apply for this management (education) role in Kirkwall with Orkney Islands Council on myjobscotland