Digging in Orkney

The producers of Time Team have released a 75-minute video covering the excavations at Orkney's Ness of Brodgar, which were conducted over a twenty-year period ending in summer 2024. Rather than the typical Time Team episode, in which a team of archaeologists swoop in and excavate a site in real time over a limited period, this is more of a straight documentary, and a very good one at that. The only recognizable Time Team regulars here are Tony Robinson, who contributes some voice-over, and the geophysicist John Gater, who has longstanding connections to the site. The other archaeologists seen on camera, including the site's director, Nick Card, are veterans of the dig at the Ness.

Orkney prehistory is fascinating. The Ness complex, dating to roughly 3000BC, is one of the most important Neolithic sites in Britain. Despite Orkney's isolation, it was no cultural backwater. In addition to the Ness, the islands are home to important stone circles, the chambered tomb at Maes Howe, and the settlement of Skara Brae. Whoever the ancient Orcadians were, they had sufficient time and energy to devote to craftsmanship and public architecture; the impressive fine stonework at the Ness is featured in the documentary.

When the excavation concluded, the site was reinterred to protect it, but during the final stages of that work a geophysical survey revealed a intriguing circular feature outside the limits of the original excavation, and the investigation of that feature (rumored to be a large Neolithic hearth) will be the subject of a future Time Team episode. The analysis and publication of the finds at the Ness is expected to go on for many years.