By Bernie Bell

The following item appeared in the Ness of Brodgar Trust blog on Friday May the 7^th and I did a little dance!…….

Good to go! Excavation resumes this summer with introduction of Covid distancing measures.

Dates set for 2021 Ness of Brodgar excavation

We are delighted to announce that excavation will resume at the Ness of Brodgar this summer – although on a much-reduced scale.

Our excavation and finds teams are in place so we are not looking for further volunteers or diggers.

We were last on site in 2019, the planned 2020 season cancelled due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. If the current easing of lockdown measures continues, 2021 will see a seven-week excavation that will be very different to previous years with several measures put in place to keep our staff and visitors safe.

Although the dig will be open to the public between June 30 and August 11, 2021, to avoid crowding we can’t run our usual guided site tours and will not be able to accept tour or coach groups. The viewing gallery will not be on site and a one-way system will be in operation.

With a smaller team than usual, the archaeological work will be on a reduced scale, with only a few of the Neolithic structures uncovered.

Nick Card, excavation director, said: “Although it will be very different to previous years, we are very much looking forward to getting back to the Ness and welcoming visitors back to see the incredible archaeology.

“To allow us to re-open the site we had to make changes to the usual Ness experience – but safety is paramount and we must do all we can to minimise risk to visitors and diggers. Our team have all been vaccinated and will undertake Covid tests during the excavation period.”

“Although we cannot offer site tours this year, the stunning archaeology in two of the three main trenches will be uncovered and visitors will, once again, be able to see archaeologists in action at a working excavation.”

§  The site will be open to the public from 9.30am until 4.30pm on weekdays, when archaeologists are working on site.

§  There are no open days this season and the site will be closed at weekends.

§  Our excavation and finds teams are in place so we are not looking for further volunteers or excavators.

Back to my jubilations….here are some previous pieces about the Ness, in TON…….. https://theorkneynews.scot/?s=Ness+of+Brodgar

YAY!!!