Digs: 2024 Dates for the Ness of Brodgar

The dates for next year’s excavation – the final season of fieldwork at the Ness – have been set.

2024’s nine-week excavation – the final season at the Ness of Brodgar – is open to the public on weekdays, from 9.30am-4.30pm, between Wednesday, June 26 and Friday, August 16.

The site will also be open on the two scheduled Sunday open days (see below).

It is closed to visitors from Monday, August 19, so work to infill the trenches can be carried out.

• There is no entry to the excavation if the main gate is closed and there are no staff on site.
• Please do not drop off passengers at the site entrance – the single-track road is busy and potentially dangerous.
• In bad weather we may have to close the site at very short notice.

Free site tours

• While the site is open to the public, our free excavation tours take place on weekdays at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
• Each tour lasts approximately one hour.
• There is no need to book the free tours. Just turn up on site ahead of the start time.

Open days

There will be two open days in 2024 – Sunday, July 14, 2024, and Sunday, August 4, 2024.

These will feature continues tours, demonstrations, displays and activities on site and at the Stenness school.

Just turn up at either location any time between 11am and 4pm on the days.

While on site

• Please remember that the Ness of Brodgar is a working archaeological dig in a field.
• Be prepared for bumpy, sometimes wet and slippy ground.
• Please keep to indicated routes and stay away from the edge of the digging areas.

Toilets

• There are no public toilets available on site.
• The nearest facilities are in Stenness village (outside the Maeshowe visitor centre), 1.2 miles (2km) from the dig.

Dogs

• Dogs are welcome, but please keep them on their leads.

For full details , including site opening hours, Visit the Ness website click here.

Due to the complex nature of the archaeology, we won’t be taking volunteers in 2024, unless they have previous experience working at the Ness.