Today they began an extension to Trench J to investigate more of Structure 5 and the building on top of it. The top soil was cleared before the morning tea break – and a tour of the trench followed.
Then began the more delicate work of scraping down to the archaeology.
Over in Structure 12 they have begun excavating a hole caused when the drain fell in – and have begun to find some exciting things.
Of course it doesn’t look that exciting to the uninitiated – but watch this space…
i am waiting for an improvement in the weather to finish my first painting.
Looking out across Structure 12 towards the Loch of Harray. The full extent of the landscape is now visible because, due to Covid regulations, there is no viewing platform for visitors. In the drawing the sun is shining on the site and the strip of green field, but there are big mildly threatening clouds beyond the loch.
My seat is in a sheltered corner where Structure 12’s supervisor created some seats for his team to work out of the wind. He has welcomed me into his ‘office’ where this afternoon I began a painting of the same view, which if the fine weather holds I will finish tomorrow.
There is a very big drain, discovered in Structure 8 in 2019, which this year they will be investigating in Structure 12. The drain appears to run underneath all the structures and is therefore likely to be earlier than any of them. I shall follow the progress during my time here.
I have so far failed to capture the sound of the resident Oyster Catcher who regularly flies overhead calling – but too swiftly for me to turn on the recorder. I will keep trying…
After last year’s cancelled dig, we are all very glad to be back. However, things are strictly limited in order to comply with Covid rules. There is only a small team on site working in a much reduced area of the trenches. Visitors are able to watch the work in progress but there are no guided tours. So human activity is quieter and the birds are noisier.
The weather was grey with occasional showers but work continued throughout the day in Trench J, with a visiting Oyster Catcher during the tea breaks.
Tomorrow I will try and record the Oyster Catcher’s calls to go with my drawing, and maybe do some reflective writing about this year’s changes.
If anyone is in Orkney and planning to come to the site, please visit the Ness of Brodgar website for details.
Money is obviously tight for everyone this year but if you would like to support my residency and the dig you can buy prints (£25) and books (£10) through my website at karenwallis.co.uk
The dig is over for another year. The last two days involved packing up the Art Hut, while dodging in and out of the rain to draw and record the trenches being covered in sandbags, tarpaulin and tyres that will protect the archaeology until next season.
At the request of Martha ‘The Rock Lady’, I made a final piece of ‘artwork’ – marks made by two rocks, red sandstone and an ochre silt stone, on three stones from the spoil heap, using a variety of mediums.
Reading from left to right: 1. dry pigment directly on to the stone, 2. applied with water, 3. mixed with duck egg white, 4. duck egg yolk, 5. whole duck egg, 6. duck fat, 7. beef dripping. Two of the stones will spend the winter in a stone built outhouse, while the third comes home with me as a control. The idea is to see how they weather over time in an environment as near as possible to one of the Neolithic buildings where colour has been discovered on the walls. This is as close to being directly involved in the actual archaeology as I get. My main function is now recognised as a form of documentation recording the human activity on site.
So now I am on the ferry at the start of my long journey home. Once back in my studio I shall review the storyboard of my film and begin to work towards the final edit. Alongside that will be some serious reflection supported by reading that will guide the future of this long term project.
This blog will now pause until there is further news. Meanwhile news from the Ness of Brodgar will continue in the Dig Diary. My daily Drawing Journal and other news will be posted on Facebook at Karen Wallis Artworks, Twitter @KarenArtwork and Instagram at karenwallisart, and the current edit of the film can be viewed on Vimeo. You can also support either the Ness of Brodgar through crowdfunding or my residency by buying a print from my web site at www.karenwallis.co.uk
No writing today but lots of drawings. Here are a few:
Preparation for covering the Ness of Brodgar site. First rolling tyres to the side of the trenches.
Next piling up the sandbags.
While some of the archaeologists do paperwork.
And more treats for the diggers from Food Fairy Mary
