Next year, 2024, will be the final year of the dig at the Ness of Brodgar, when the archaeologists move on to post excavation work. While my residency on site will end, I expect to have my own post project work remaining to do, in terms of completing artwork and, I hope, integrating everything I have done into the Ness site record.
With the film Drawing Archaeology now complete, I am working on a second film, which will probably have less narrative and be more of a simple celebration of the atmosphere here. As mentioned before, there is a large amount of images and sound ‘on the cutting room floor’ – including all the oil paintings, work with pigments found on site, and background videos of various aspects of the landscape. So this season, I will be filling up any gaps in my collection, while keeping up with the usual observations of activity on the dig.
Being the first day, much time was spent catching up with old friends and the weather was beautiful with the usual dramatic Orkney skies.
I spent the day beside Structure 8, filming some better background videos, recording ambient sounds, and making a few drawings.
Excavating a corner.
A nearby stone wall
And a visitors’ tour on the other side of the main trench. Let’s hope the weather is as good tomorrow.
