The Ness of Brodgar

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In 2014 the Foundation started to support the Ness of Brodgar a world renowned, award-winning archaeological excavation in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. This unique, monumental, 5,000 year old walled Neolithic complex is situated in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site between the great stone circles of the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness. (http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/nessofbrodgar/).

This project has a unique position in European prehistory. The site not only has the great potential to aid our understanding of the period and the development of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney and beyond, but also to promote archaeology and Orkney in general through its high profile and its educational facilities for a worldwide audience. Although an academic and research excavation the

Ness maintains a wide community spirit and encourages the participation of every aspect of the community both local and worldwide.

Work undertaken thus far is already sufficient to indicate that the full investigation of the complex will transform our understanding of many different aspects of the Neolithic in Orkney, in Britain and in a broader European context. It is no revelation that the Neolithic in North-Western Europe (and elsewhere) saw societies, gather, cohere and turn around important monuments. We also know that individual monuments were often sustained or referenced over time, repeated gatherings marked by a legacy of monument complexes. So it is with the World Heritage Area in Orkney, long recognized for the remarkable concentration of tombs and other places of public ceremony. What makes the Ness of Brodgar so important is that it offers us a chance to understand what went on at the hub of this landscape. The entire ‘bowl’ of the Brodgar peninsula and surrounding landscape turns on the area occupied by the Ness. It seems to have been pivotal to the events witnessed at monuments like the Stones of Stenness, Maes Howe or the Ring of Brodgar. And from the exceptional deposits that survive, it also had a broader significance, a place that was significant and perhaps socially pivotal for the Neolithic communities scattered around the Orkney archipelago and (most likely) even further afield.

The full nature and history of the complex is not yet established (only circa 10% has so far been investigated). However, it is already clear that the structural/architectural character of the Ness of Brodgar sets it apart from other places across the region. Those visiting the immediate area in the later part of the Neolithic would have recognized the ways that most of the buildings on the Ness were put together; their own homes were the result of similar choices. What they would not have been familiar with was the scale of some of the structures; the truly monumental nature of individual buildings and enclosing walls. They would have also been confronted by a dramatic sense of time depth in the complex and a surprising variety of architectural forms, a variety which might itself indicate a broader regional community gathered and represented in one place. To this we could add the evidence of artefact and bone assemblages, special deposits and the interior fabric of many buildings; the selective use of coloured stones, painting with pigment and a rich corpus of inscriptions. These are genuinely remarkable, not least because they survive in context, a situation which is very rare indeed in these sorts of monument complexes.

All of these factors make the Ness of Brodgar a place where we can expect to find evidence that transforms our picture of social life and social change in the Neolithic. As a point of contrast with recent work at Stonehenge, in Brittany and in southern Scandinavia, it has the (demonstrated) potential to reveal the specific material and historical conditions in which people constructed their worlds in and around the North Atlantic. When compared to other sequences across Atlantic Europe, an understanding of how things unfolded in this region will say much about the nature of contact and communication at broader scales.

Education

Education is a very important aspect of the Ness excavations. Not only do the excavations maintain a high academic profile but also actively promotes the involvement of all aspects of the community, locally, nationally and internationally.

An Excavation Club for 12-16 year olds has been particularly well received and heavily oversubscribed with children attending both locally and from around the world. Volunteers and students of all ages and capabilities, from near and far are also encouraged to join the excavations and/or participate in the year round post-excavation processing of finds etc. For those less able to participate in actual excavation, places are made available to assist with other on-site activities.

Public education is also very high on the agenda of the Ness. The site is open to the public throughout the excavations when visitors can consult the information panels, view the site from the large elevated viewing platform, or join one of our free guided tours. The excavations also host special tours for local schools, archaeological societies and tour groups from around the globe.

Dissemination

An important element of the excavations at the Ness is the dissemination of the findings to as wide an audience as possible, both academic and the general public.

Besides academic papers, the site has been featured in numerous more popular magazines and articles including the cover story in the August 2014 edition of National Geographic, http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/08/neolithic-orkney/smith-text and local, national and international media including television, radio and the WWW.

For those unable to visit the site, the excavations can also be followed through our daily illustrated diary hosted on the award winning Orkneyjar website (http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/nessofbrodgar/) or on the American Friends of the Ness of Brodgar Facebook page.

The Ness and Orkney as a whole have also been featured in numerous lectures by Nick Card at various institutions around the world including the Royal Archaeological Institute, the British Museum, the Sorbonne, Australian Museum, and the Smithsonian. Besides these more academic venues Nick has also spoken to numerous schools, local clubs and societies across the world.

Accolades

• In 2008 it was runner-up in the international Andante Travel Archaeology Award (winner was the University of San Francisco's work at Pompeii)

• In 2009 the site was recognized by the Archaeological Institute of America as one of the great discoveries of that year

• In 2011 it was awarded the Current Archaeology (national British magazine) Research Project of the Year

• In 2011 the Ness was noted and acknowledged in a motion in the Scottish Parliament.

• In 2012 it won the international Andante Travel Archaeology Award

• In 2013 nominated for Educational Travel Community Award

• In 2014 the Ness was nominated by Archaeology Scotland for a British Archaeology Award

A few select comments

• “World's most spectacular Neolithic dig”

Neil Oliver, Historian and TV Presenter.

• “The Ness was the center of their universe…. a major ceremonial and ritual center that must have served for the whole of Mainland Orkney and the whole of the islands in general. It was a very special place.”

Lord Colin Renfrew, Professor of Archaeology, Cambridge University

• “Stunning - the most important Neolithic discovery in Great Britain since WW2”

Francis Pryor Archaeologist and TV Presenter

• “Key to the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site – and a site of international importance” Professor Mark Edmonds, York University.

To foster public awareness of and provide financial support for the Ness of Brodgar in 2014 two charities were established - The American Friends of the Ness of Brodgar, Inc. a registered United States tax-exempt [501 (c) (3)] charity (http://www.nessofbrodgar.com/) and its UK counterpart the Ness of Brodgar Trust, (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organization (SCIO) Registration Number SC044890).

NESS OF BRODGAR EXCAVATION SITE PROGRESS REPORT

By Sage Dunne-Cerami & James Kent

1 Overview

The Ness of Brodgar excavation site has become a popular tourist destination, but for the locals it is a place to discover the history and importance of Neolithic Orkney. Over the years the involvement of the local community has grown exponentially; providing numerous opportunities for experienced archeologists, students, and curious visitors.

Our time on the site During our week at The Ness of Brodgar excavation site we were involved in a range of tasks, all of which were suitable for archaeologists and volunteers with no prior knowledge such as ourselves. The team at the site was very welcoming and took the time to explain all the Neolithic structures that were exposed, with this we were able to obtain a better picture of exactly what we were looking at. Due to our arrival on the second week of the season, the main objective was helping remove the covering from the Neolithic complex and cleaning the floors of materials which became loose during the harsh winter conditions. As the cleaning process continued we were taught the procedure for ‘small finding’ and what to keep an eye out for. The loose material removed during the cleaning could not be logged as the origin of the sample could not be confidently identified. Once a fresh layer was created over the whole site, the real work began; which was trying to uncover some interesting finds. We turned our attention to the area known as the ‘Central Midden Area’ where we were able to uncover small fragments of pottery and what was believed to be animal bones. Although most of the time on the site was spent digging, we got to take a look in the finds hut to see what had been found during the current season. Whilst in the hut we also got to talk to some of the volunteers about their experience with the site and the progress they’ve seen over the years.

Site Findings The most common findings on the site have been flint, bone, semi-precious stone, and pottery. We were fortunate enough to be on site during one of the rarer findings, which was a large portion of a decorated pottery this was the largest piece of its kind ever found on the site. As there were plenty of archeology students from the University of Highlands and Islands (UHI), the team made sure all of the students got around to seeing the unique find. When speaking to some of the University students about their hopes for their time at Ness of Brodgar, coming across a special find was

2 high on their wish list. The decorative pottery certainly counted as a special find, and the season was full of many more such as the incredible discovery of the remains of a baby who had died at or near birth.

Impact on the local community Apart from a spike in tourism, the Ness of Brodgar site has resulted in an increased interest amongst the locals regarding the Neolithic history of the Orkney Islands. The site findings (which are showcased at the UHI, the site’s finds hut, and published on the website) enable locals to be more attentive towards the possibility that Neolithic finds may be found on their property. According to Nick (the project leader), “The site has lots of farmers who visit to show us some bits of pot or other stones which they found on their farms as they want to know if it’s of any importance.” Farmers are not the only group who have shown an interest in the archaeological findings, children have also expressed a curiosity. During the Summer, the excavation club for 12-16 year olds, can be seen roaming around the trenches and digging in some of the structures as well as visiting the finds hut according to the team it’s not uncommon for the children to find significant amounts of flint. The site’s hands on experience provides the younger generation of Orkney the ability to learn the Neolithic ties of where they live.

An increased appreciation for the archaeological history of the Orkney Islands, isn’t the only thing the site has brought to the locals; the boosted economy is one aspect everyone on the site mentions. The global audience, which the site attracts, has noticeably increased the tourism and publicity in the local area. Cruise ships have made the Ness of Brodgar Excavation Site a must-see tourist destination, funneling in a large quantity of visitors a day. Through the “sponsor a square” the daily visitors are able to track progress of the dig, by specifying a particular area in the main trench which they wish to receive updates from. The “sponsor a square” was able to raise a grand total of £17,290 which will go towards making upgrades on the site and funding the site’s expenses. Along with the cruise ships; the numerous publicity

3 projects such as news reports, magazine articles, and documentaries, have resulted in a large influx of tourists heading towards the site.

Involvement of the global community The ‘American Friends of the Ness Of Brodgar' (AFNOB) is an organisation which has been established to allow residents of the USA to find out more information about and support the ongoing excavation. One of the organisation’s members, Helen Smith, expressed gratitude for the extended time frame of the dig as she believed that this increased the chances of more significant discoveries to occur each season. An issue, she said, prior to the foundations donation, was the previously short window in which excavation could occur; this could be due to the many days of bad weather in which no digging can occur and also the time required to uncover and re-cover the site at the start and end of the summer.