Accessibility

Font Size

100% 150% 200%

Background Colour

Default Contrast
Close Reset

Brodgar Farm

Cairn (Neolithic)(Possible), Structure (Neolithic)

Site Name Brodgar Farm

Classification Cairn (Neolithic)(Possible), Structure (Neolithic)

Alternative Name(s) Lochview; Trench T

Canmore ID 2106

Site Number HY31SW 20

NGR HY 3039 1280

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/2106

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

Toggle Aerial | View on large map

Digital Images

Administrative Areas

  • Council Orkney Islands
  • Parish Stenness
  • Former Region Orkney Islands Area
  • Former District Orkney
  • Former County Orkney

Archaeology Notes

HY31SW 20 3039 1280.

'... at the north-west end of the Bridge of Brodgar is a large dilapidated tumulus, which appears to be the ruin of an ancient stone building, perhaps a Pict's castle; close by it are two small standing stones (HY31SW 10).'

F W L Thomas 1852.

'The dilapidated traces of a ruined cairn or mound...' in which a number of relics of an unspecified nature have been found.

RCAHMS 1946.

All that remains of the mound is an area of disturbed ground, approx. 20.0 m. diameter, situated at HY 3039 1280 at the top of a low ridge. It has been extensively quarried on its NE side, near the road, and reduced on its SW side by cultivation. Its original size and typology cannot

be ascertained.

Surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (NKB) 11 May 1966.

In the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS) is an incised stone sinker and an ornamental stone ball, almost certainly from this tumulus.

Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1885 (articles exhibited); Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1888 (Donations); J Noble 1888; RCAHMS 1946.

Activities

Excavation (4 July 2016 - 26 August 2016)

HY 303 129 (HY31SW 20 and 112) Further investigation of the Neolithic complex on the Ness of Brodgar was undertaken, 4 July – 26 August 2016. The main structures were further investigated to clarify their relationships and the individual biographies of each building. Micromorphic sampling of both floors and middens again complemented other sampling strategies including archaeomagnetic and onsite XRF analysis.

In Trench T near the southern tip of the Ness of Brodgar Peninsular more of the late pits cut into the lower slopes of the midden mound were excavated and the underlying middens removed to reveal more of the robbed out remains of Structure 27.

Initially Structure 27’s form appeared to resemble the Bookan-style of tomb; however, in 2016 its construction was shown to be unique. Although the outer wall faces are constructed of fine, large masonry, the inner wall faces are much rougher, but would have been hidden behind upright

orthostats ‘cladding’ the internal wall faces. Large prone orthostats up to 4m in length set on edge helped to support the orthostat lining. Side recesses were created along the side walls by orthostats perpendicular to the internal walls. The lack of apparent domestic features (including the absence of the use of midden in the wall cores) may suggest a funerary function. The symmetry, scale (internally c7.5m wide), and unique construction methods is presently without parallel. Although not clearly defined in the earth resistance surveys, a slight sub-oval anomaly c20m SW/NE by 15m, could be the outline of this building. This may be set within a larger, sub-circular enclosure, c50m diameter again revealed by resistance.

Further excavation was also undertaken in the sondage through the midden mound, which is formed of numerous individual midden heaps. This confirmed the spatial patterning revealed in 2015.

Report: NRHE and Orkney SMR

Funder: Orkney Islands Council, Ness of Brodgar Trust, American Friends of the Ness of Brodgar, Foundation for World Health, Orkney College UHI, and Orkney Archaeology Society

Nick Card - ORCA and Archaeology Institute, UHI

(Source: DES, Volume 17)

Excavation (3 July 2017 - 25 August 2017)

HY 303 129 (HY31SW 20 and 112)

Further investigation of the Neolithic complex on the Ness of Brodgar was undertaken, 3 July – 25 August 2017. The main structures were further investigated to clarify their relationships and the individual biographies of each building. Micromorphic sampling of both floors and middens again complemented other sampling strategies including archaeomagnetic and onsite XRF analysis.

Trench T near the southern tip of the Ness of Brodgar was squared off in order to reveal more of the plan of Structure 27 (12.3 wide by at least 17m long overall). More of the late pits cut into the lower slopes of the overlying midden mound were excavated with some pits exhibiting partial rough dry stone lining. A total of >50 pits have now been excavated. Some of the pits were evidently the result of the robbing of Structure 27. The number and complexity of these pits prevented floor levels in Structure 27 being further exposed. However, its plan has been clarified with the SW end wall and more of the internal wall lining being revealed. As suggested last year Structure 27 was lined by vertical orthostats partially held in place by 4m long orthostats lain on edge. A new partially exposed orthostat on the same alignment as the side walls but near the central axis of the structure may be part of an entrance arrangement / passage. The thickness of the walls, c2.4m, would suggest that this structure was not corbelled. A few stone slates previously found imply a roofing system similar to other buildings at the Ness. The southern external corner was also clarified and confirmed the quality of the build with stepped foundations and some slabs exhibiting pick dressing. Further stone slabbed external drains were also discovered at its SW end.

Report: Orkney SMR and NRHE (intended)

Funder: Orkney Islands Council, Ness of Brodgar Trust, American Friends of the Ness of Brodgar, Foundation for World Health, UHI Archaeology Institute, Orkney Archaeology Society

Nick Card – ORCA and Archaeology Institute, UHI

(Source: DES, Volume 18)

Excavation (4 July 2022 - 19 August 2022)

HY 303 129 The 2022 excavation at Ness of Brodgar (Canmore ID: 2106 and 269123; DES Volumes 3–20; DES Volume 22) resumed operations at almost a full pre-COVID 19 level with Trenches P, J and T being opened, apart from Structure 12 for logistical reasons. In Trench J, the removal of the remains of Structure 32 built in the remains of the earlier Structure 5 revealed the original large rectangular hearth and more of the floor/occupation deposits relating to the primary phase of Structure 5. A large whalebone mattock (?) was also recovered from the floor close to the hearth along with a polished stone axe. Potential ‘dresser’- like arrangements relating to this primary phase were located along its N, E and W walls akin to the ‘cupboards’ encountered at the Knap of Howar. Six large structural postholes were revealed against the inner wallface of the original build of Structure 5, one either side of the entrance, and four others around its interior. The use of posts to support the roof is in stark contrast to the later piered buildings where apart from the use of large posts to shore up collapsing roofs none have been identified. The posts were

removed, with the later phase addition of an extension to the NE end. Artefacts – including stone tools, a decorated stone and a whale vertebra – were deposited in the empty sockets before being covered over.

Trench J was also slightly extended to reveal more of the inner face of the northern boundary wall and further investigate its construction and clarify its relationship to Structure 5. Excavation revealed a set of steps tied into the fabric of the inner wallface and confirmed that the boundary wall postdates the primary phases of Structure 5.

In Trench P work in Structure 10 continued to concentrate on unpicking the complex floor deposits based on a 0.5m grid for sampling. Further features were revealed relating to the primary phase of its use, including small postholes, robbed out orthostatic divisions, and pits.

Work also resumed this year in Structure 8, the longest later piered building at the Ness. The remains of the last of the primary floor deposits and features were removed across the structure to reveal more of the two smaller piered structures under it, 17 and

18. This revealed that Structures 17 and 18 were separated by a paved area, before elements of both were incorporated into the fabric of Structure 8. Notable discoveries in the primary phase of Structure 8 were the head of a human femur in a stone box/ hearth type setting.

Excavation was also resumed in Structure 1. A key focus was investigating the construction and remodelling episodes that defined the boundary between Phase 1 (double cruciform architecture) and Phase 2 (single cruciform architecture). This involved the continued excavation of secondary phase architectural features, including the three perpendicular

orthostatic divisions that demarcated the northern bays and alcoves during Phase 2, and an additional structural orthostat, which functioned as a revetment for the later inserted curving wall. Deconstruction of these features was crucial to fully establish and link the sequence of early occupation deposits across the northern and southern internal areas. Excavations of the complex series of early phase occupation-derived deposits, clay floor patches, and midden levelling layers in the northern and southern internal areas of the building also continued. Notable discoveries were numerous small stakeholes cutting the clay flooring abutting the original hearth in the southern end of the building. A limited amount of work was also carried out in the external area around Structure 1 to confirm and clarify the chronological relationships between Structure 1 and the adjacent buildings, 7/19, 21 and 11.

Trench T over the monumental midden mound was also

reopened with work concentrated on revealing more of Structure 27 and its internal floors and features. The complexity of the infilling layers prevented much of the interior being revealed except in a couple of small sondages. Where exposed, the floor seemed to consist of clean yellow clay but this may yet prove to be an initial deliberate infilling deposit. Externally, although the walls on the SW end and SE side had been mainly robbed in prehistory, the removal of more robbing debris revealed massive paving slabs extending out from, and in places sitting on, the stepped foundations. These slabs also formed the capping stones to a drainage system around the exterior of Structure 27, which was connected to a drain exiting the interior under the southwestern end wall. However, the outer wallface on the NW side was much better preserved and revealed fine and beautifully coursed masonry – some of the finest in Neolithic Orkney. The base of this slightly curving outer wall has yet to be fully revealed but it is expected that the external paving encountered on the other sides of the building continues and that the wall will survive to circa 0.5m in height. A deposit of animal bone started to appear above the paving, reminiscent of the large bone deposits encountered around Structure 10, though more mixed and not as dense. This will be further explored in 2023.

Removal of more robbing debris over this NW side wall also

clarified the construction again akin to Structure 10 with a narrow band of midden core sandwiched between carefully laid stone core material. The quality and unusual nature of the architecture of Structure 27 sets it apart from other structures at the Ness and elsewhere.

For more information see www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk and the interim volume Card, N., Edmonds, M., & Mitchell, A (eds) 2020 Ness of Brodgar, as it stands. Kirkwall.

Archive: NRHE and Orkney HER (intended)

Funder: Orkney Islands Council; Ness of Brodgar Trust; American Friends of the Ness of Brodgar; UHI Archaeology Institute; Orkney Archaeology Society

Nick Card – Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA), UHI Archaeology Institute

(Source: DES Volume 23)

References

MyCanmore Image Contributions


Contribute an Image

MyCanmore Text Contributions