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.

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

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.

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/

Video: Eday’s Setter Stone from above… A short video from Jim Rylatt showing the Stone of Setter in the Eday landscape.

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...

Dig diary – week one at Skaill, Rousay A round-up of the first week of excavations at Skaill, Rousay, from Dan Lee.

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

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)

A look at the Huntersquoy chambered cairn in Eday.
#orkney #archaeology #Neolithic #chamberedcairns #chamberedtombs

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.

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

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.

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

Vinquoy chambered cairn, Eday We begin a series of posts looking at the Neolithic in Eday with the Vinquoy chambered cairn.

We begin a series of posts looking at the Neolithic in #Eday with the Vinquoy chambered cairn.
#archaeology #Neolithic #ChamberedCairn #Orkney

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.

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...

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.

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

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 ...

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...

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.

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

A henge at Staneyhill in Harray? Another large ditch-and-bank enclosure in Orkney's West Mainland. But is it actually a Neolithic 'henge'?

Another large ditch-and-bank enclosure in Orkney's West Mainland. But is it actually a Neolithic 'henge'?
#archaeology #Orkney #Neolithic #BronzeAge

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.

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

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...

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...

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.

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

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...

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

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.

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...

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

Nope. But then hugging is just not the Orcadian way. But like grandparents, you treat them respect, sometimes view with awe and, once in a while, just wish they could be left in peace. A doff of the cap never hurts though. Just in case.

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.

A look at what may have lain behind the 1861 newspaper claim of two mummies and a giant in Maeshowe.
#archaeology #Orkney #Neolithic

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.

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

Small Finds #4 At the grave of George Mackay Brown

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...

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.”

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

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…

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

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.

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

Ness online talk on Saturday as part of North Ronaldsay Science Festival As part of the 2025 North Ronaldsay Science Festival, site director Nick Card will be giving a talk at 1.45pm on Saturday, March 15.

As part of the 2025 North Ronaldsay Science Festival, site director Nick Card will be giving a free, online talk at 1.45pm on Saturday, March 15, 2025.
#archaeology #neolithic #Orkney #NorthRonaldsay #NessOfBrodgar

Poster for a poetry reading featuring a black and white photo of an old stone pier stretching into a bay (courtesy and Copyright of Jonathan Ford). The details of the event reads: 'Twisted Ribbons of Song. Poetry composed in and inspired by Orkney and Shetland. An evening of poetry with Judith Jesch reading some poems from her forthcoming translation of The Saga of the Earls of Orkney alongside Charlotte Eichler and Lydia Harris reading their recent poems inspired by islands. St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall, Tuesday 1st April: 19:30. OPEN TO ALL AGES & FREE. Introduced by Donna Heddle, Professor of Northern Heritage and Director of the Institute of Northern Studies, UHI. Email: matthew.blake@nottingham.ac.uk

Date for your diary! If you're in Kirkwall on Tuesday 1st April, come along to our FREE #PoetryReading at the St. Magnus Centre at 7:30pm! With poets Charlotte Eichler and Lydia Harris and #saga poetry from @judithjesch.bsky.social! Book your place (details on the poster)!

Scapa…part one… - Ragna's Islands: A New Saga Skálpeið is mentioned several times in the Saga of the Earls of Orkney and we find the place-name ‘Scapa’ applied to a number of places in Orkney: Scapa Flow and Scapa Bay in the sea, and on land at two farms (Upper and Nether Scapa), Scapa House, not to mention the modern Scapa Distillery near ...

‘Scapa’ is an important place in #OrkneyingaSaga & is still applied to a number of places in #Orkney: to #ScapaFlow & Scapa Bay, to the farms of Upper & Nether Scapa & of course the #ScapaDistillery... but what does #Scapa mean?! Find out in our latest blog! blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/ragnasisland...

Fruitless and forgotten – the 1861 excavation inside the Ring of Brodgar For decades, the uncertainty surrounding the interior of the Ring of Brodgar has been put down to the fact it is unexcavated. A statement that, it seems, is not entirely correct.

For decades, the uncertainty surrounding the interior of the Ring of Brodgar has been put down to the fact it is unexcavated. A statement that, it seems, is not entirely correct.
#archaeology #Neolithic #Orkney #StoneCircles #RingOfBrodgar