Dig Watch: Ness of Brodgar | Day 17 (Patreon)

Day two of the final week brought some challenging conditions, with rain making for a difficult start before the wind finally eased. By the end of the day, however, the Orkney midges had made their long-awaited appearance!

Despite the weather, it proved to be another hugely significant day on site. Jackie was finally able to lift the hearth stones, revealing what lay beneath, while more of the entranceway came into view, complete with an unexpected surprise. As excavation continued, new clues about the building's surfaces, layout and internal features helped the structure begin to make much more sense.

Then, in the final hour of digging, everything changed.

The discovery of another wall has raised a whole new set of questions. Is it part of an earlier or later phase of the same building, an annexe, or evidence of an entirely separate structure? With just two days of excavation remaining, the team is racing to uncover the answers.

Could our circular building pre-date the main Ness complex, or is it later? If it was contemporary, why was it built so close to the entrance of the Great Wall of Brodgar? The key may lie in the dating evidence we're all hoping for and perhaps beneath Jackie's hearth.

What do you think this newly discovered wall represents? Share your theories in the comments!