Sigurd Towrie
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orkneyjar.bsky.social
Sigurd Towrie
@orkneyjar.bsky.social
660 followers 53 following 2 posts
Orkney. North of Scotland. Ran Orkneyjar website until 2024, when costs and time became too much. Now divide my time between nessofbrodgar.bsky.social and uhiarchaeology.bsky.social
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Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
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.
#Orkney #Neolithic #archaeology #chamberedcairns #chamberedtomb
New photographs added to Quoyness and Egmondshowe pages
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.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
August 23, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
A brief look at the Stone of Setter, one of Orkney's most impressive monoliths, which towers over a landscape dotted with prehistoric remains at the northern end of #Eday
#Orkney #archaeology #Neolithic #prehistory #StandingStones #StandingStone
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/setter-stone/
Around the Stone of Setter, Eday
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.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
August 27, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
A short video from Jim Rylatt showing the Stone of Setter in the #Eday landscape.
#orkney #archaeology #Neolithic #standingstone #standingstones
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/setter-stone...
Video: Eday’s Setter Stone from above…
A short video from Jim Rylatt showing the Stone of Setter in the Eday landscape.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
August 29, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
uhiarchaeology.bsky.social
Week one at Skaill Rousay: A round-up of the first week of excavations at Skaill, Rousay, from Dan Lee - including a 'memento mori' stone fragment, suspected to have come from the nearby kirk.
#archaeology #excavation #Rousay #Orkney #ThinkUHI #UHIResearch
Dig diary – week one at Skaill, Rousay
A round-up of the first week of excavations at Skaill, Rousay, from Dan Lee.
archaeologyorkney.com
July 17, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
A look at the Huntersquoy chambered cairn in Eday.
#orkney #archaeology #Neolithic #chamberedcairns #chamberedtombs
Similar but different – the two-storey Huntersquoy chambered cairn, Eday
“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)
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
July 10, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
Our two-week project to geophysically survey the entire Ness excavation site came to a successful end last Friday has produced some very interesting preliminary results.
#archaeology #NessOfBrodgar #geophysics #Neolithic #Orkney #postexcavation
Geophysics results confirm enclosure walls at north-western end of Ness complex
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.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
June 26, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
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.
#archaeology #geophysics #TimeTeam #Neolithic #Orkney #post-excavation
Initial Time Team GPR results surpass John Gater’s expectations
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.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
July 1, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
We begin a series of posts looking at the Neolithic in #Eday with the Vinquoy chambered cairn.
#archaeology #Neolithic #ChamberedCairn #Orkney
Vinquoy chambered cairn, Eday
We begin a series of posts looking at the Neolithic in Eday with the Vinquoy chambered cairn.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
May 19, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
ragnasislands.bsky.social
Well, we've been researching Ragna's Islands for over a year now... and thanks to the fab #OrkneyMuseum you can finally meet her! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
AI Viking character unveiled in Orkney museum - BBC News
It is part of a permanent exhibition to celebrate the role of the Vikings in the area's history.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 11, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
Between 2007 and 2013, excavation by Dr Antonia Thomas and Dan Lee, of the UHI Archaeology Institute, revealed a cluster of five early Neolithic buildings at the Braes of Ha’Breck, Wyre.
#archaeology #neolithic #Orkney #excavation
Timber, stone and grain – the Braes of Ha’Breck settlement, Wyre
Between 2007 and 2013, excavation by Dr Antonia Thomas and Dan Lee, of the UHI Archaeology Institute, revealed a cluster of five early Neolithic buildings at the Braes of Ha’Breck, Wyre.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
May 1, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
ragnasislands.bsky.social
Our latest blog looks at the #saga #PlaceName Paplay! Where was it, when was it, and what does it mean?! #Orkney #OrkneyingaSaga blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/ragnasisland...
Pinpointing Paplay... the priests, the parish, the place-name... - Ragna's Islands: A New Saga
The place-name Paplay occurs in the Saga of the Earls of Orkney (Orkneyinga saga) on several occasions. In chapter 42 we hear that Gunnhildr, daughter of the late Earl Erlendr who had died in Trondheim, was married off by King Magnús to Kolr Kalason a well-connected Norwegian landowner, and that ‘some properties in the Orkneys ...
blogs.nottingham.ac.uk
April 28, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
We've pulled together a series of 3d models showing different stages excavation in Structure Twelve’s eastern annexe - a later addition to the building.
#archaeology #Neolithic #NessOfBrodgar #excavation
Excavation over time – Structure Twelve’s eastern annexe in 3d
We've pulled together a series of 3d models showing different stages excavation in Structure Twelve’s eastern annexe.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
April 28, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
Another large ditch-and-bank enclosure in Orkney's West Mainland. But is it actually a Neolithic 'henge'?
#archaeology #Orkney #Neolithic #BronzeAge
A henge at Staneyhill in Harray?
Another large ditch-and-bank enclosure in Orkney's West Mainland. But is it actually a Neolithic 'henge'?
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
April 16, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
Neolithic or later? A look at the large ditch-and-bank enclosure, near Overbigging, about 480 metres north-west of Maeshowe.
#archaeology #Orkney #Neolithic #IronAge
The Overbigging enclosure – an ‘elaborate and rather enigmatic monument’
Neolithic or later? A look at the large ditch-and-bank enclosure, near Overbigging, about 480 metres north-west of Maeshowe.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
April 10, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
uhiarchaeology.bsky.social
Professor Ingrid Mainland, Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon and Dr Siobhan Cooke-Miller were invited to participate in a @ragnasislands.bsky.social project workshop held in Kirkwall earlier this week.
#archaeology #orkney #viking #norse #placenames
archaeologyorkney.com/2025/04/03/r...
A meeting of minds at 'Ragna's Islands' workshop in Kirkwall - Archaeology Orkney
The UHI Archaeology Institute's Professor Ingrid Mainland, Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon and Dr Siobhan Cooke-Miller were invited to participate in a Ragna's Islands project workshop held in Kirkwall earlier t...
archaeologyorkney.com
April 3, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
Plans to reopen the Isbister chambered cairn took a step closer this week with the Scottish Land Fund awarding £357,705 to the South Ronaldsay and Burray Development Trust to purchase the site.
#archaeology #Orkney #neolithic #chamberedtomb
Trust’s £357k award sees ‘Tomb of the Eagles’ purchase move a step closer
Plans to reopen the Isbister chambered cairn took a step closer this week with the Scottish Land Fund awarding £357,705 to the South Ronaldsay and Burray Development Trust.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
April 4, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
hugowhymark.bsky.social
OUT NOW!
The Early Neolithic of Northern Europe: New approaches to migration, movement and social connections. www.sidestone.com/books/the-ea...

#prehistory #monuments #NeolithicScandinavia
The Early Neolithic of northern Europe @ Sidestone Press
In Britain, Ireland and Southern Scandinavia, the Early Neolithic is characterised by monumental constructions (e.g. causewayed enclosures, dolmens) and by specific traditions of depositional practice...
www.sidestone.com
March 31, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
uhiarchaeology.bsky.social
Hoy was the destination for a student field trip yesterday, led by institute director, Professor Jane Downes.
#archaeology #heritage #orkney #ThinkUHI #UHIOrkney
archaeologyorkney.com/2025/04/01/h...
A taste of the 'dark, enchanted isle' on students' whistle-stop trip to Hoy - Archaeology Orkney
Hoy was the destination for a student field trip yesterday, led by institute director, Professor Jane Downes.
archaeologyorkney.com
April 1, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
urbanprehistorian.bsky.social
I’d really like to get some answers to these questions:
Do you hug standing stones?
If so, why?
Please share for a wide range of responses!
@stoneclub.bsky.social @megalithic.bsky.social
@prehistoricsociety.bsky.social
March 27, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
A look at what may have lain behind the 1861 newspaper claim of two mummies and a giant in Maeshowe.
#archaeology #Orkney #Neolithic
Maeshowe – the mummies, the giant and the mound-dweller…
A look at what may have lain behind the 1861 newspaper claim of two mummies and a giant in Maeshowe.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
March 27, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
The next in our series of Data Structure Reports (DSRs) is now available, with the 2009 document free to download.
#archaeology #excavation #Neolithic #NessOfBrodgar #Orkney
Full excavation report for 2009 season available to download
The next in our series of Data Structure Reports (DSRs) is now available, with the 2009 document now free to download.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
March 25, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
peteralanross.bsky.social
I went to Orkney and visited the grave of George Mackay Brown. I hope you enjoy reading it, as I enjoyed writing it. Please consider sharing, and perhaps even subscribing so that my work will be emailed to you whenever I post. It's free. smallfinds.substack.com/p/small-find...
Small Finds #4
At the grave of George Mackay Brown
smallfinds.substack.com
March 21, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
The Isbister stalled cairn - the 'Tomb of the Eagles' - was one of the few Orcadian chambered cairns found to contain human remains – in this case, in such quantities that it was declared 'the largest assemblage … from any single British Neolithic site.'
#archaeology #Neolithic #Orkney
Isbister cairn – the human remains
Isbister was one of the few Orcadian chambered cairns found to contain human remains – in this case, in such quantities that it was declared “the largest assemblage … from any single British Neolithic site.”
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
March 20, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
nessofbrodgar.bsky.social
An @orkneyarchaeology.bsky.social online talk on Thurs, March 20, will see Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark update us on the 2024 excavation season at the Blomuir chambered cairn, Holm.
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/blomuir-upda...
#archaeology #Neolithic #Orkney #Excavation #ChamberedCairn #ChamberedTomb
Update on the Blomuir chambered cairn at Thursday’s OAS talk
An Orkney Archaeology Society talk on Thursday, March 20, will see Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark give an update on 2024 excavation season at the Blomuir chambered cairn in the East Mainland parish of Ho…
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk
March 18, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by Sigurd Towrie
uhiarchaeology.bsky.social
The data structure report for ORCA's 'From Peat Spade to Tangle Trade' industrial heritage project is available to download.
archaeologyorkney.com/2025/03/18/i...
#archaeology #orkney #industrialheritage
Industrial heritage data structure report available to download - Archaeology Orkney
The data structure report for the 'From Peat Spade to Tangle Trade' industrial heritage project is available to download.
archaeologyorkney.com
March 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM