Ness of Brodgar

What Ness of Brodgar does

The Ness of Brodgar is a charitable archaeological research project investigating a 3-hectare Neolithic site in Stenness, Orkney, Scotland, situated within the UNESCO Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. Founded in 2004, it conducted 20 years of systematic excavation that revealed monumental stone structures dating to c.3000BC and 44+ identified structures across multiple trenches. Core technical work centres on stratigraphic analysis (including Harris matrix construction), radiocarbon dating, archaeobotanical analysis, soil micromorphology, ceramic reconstruction, and photogrammetry-based 3D documentation of trenches, structures, and artefacts. Following the end of fieldwork in August 2024, the project has transitioned to post-excavation analysis and planned full publication, while continuing community outreach and digital content production.

The project is funded principally through public donations routed via two supporting charities — the Ness of Brodgar Trust (UK) and American Friends of the Ness of Brodgar (US) — supplemented by institutional grants (LEADER, RICHeS) and a small e-commerce merchandise operation selling books, prints, replicas, jewellery, knitting kits, and original art. Distribution is community-led: the website, Time Team media partnership, podcasts, Instagram, email newsletter, public lectures, and limited on-site visits reach archaeology enthusiasts, academic researchers, educational institutions, and heritage tourists. There is no commercial revenue stream and the entity is not investor-backed; ownership and governance rest with the trust structure.

Name

Ness of Brodgar

Legal name

The Ness of Brodgar Trust

Website

https://nessofbrodgar.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ness of Brodgar is a charitable archaeological research project that excavated a major Neolithic stone-built complex in Orkney, Scotland from 2004 to 2024. It now focuses on post-excavation analysis and publication, funded by public donations via two charities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Archaeological Research Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJACAC

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Attractions & Landmarks (Observation Decks, Monuments, Scenic Sites)

SECONDARYTHAJADAI

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

Keywords

• Archaeological excavation
• Neolithic research
• Heritage education
• Cultural preservation
• Field archaeology

Headquarters

HQ city

Stromness

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Donations: Project is mainly funded through public generosity via two supporting charities - the Ness of Brodgar Trust and the American Friends of the Ness of Brodgar.
2. E-commerce Sales: Online shop selling merchandise including books, cards and prints, woodturned bowls, carved stone ball replicas, jewellery, knitting kits and patterns, and original art.
3. Grant Funding: Funding received from institutional sources including LEADER programme and RICHeS (Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science) Access Fund for specific research projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Ness of Brodgar is a charitable archaeological research project that conducted a 20-year excavation (2004–2024) of a three-hectare Neolithic monumental complex in Orkney, Scotland, within the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site. The project now focuses on post-excavation analysis and publication, while sharing findings through digital content (3D models, podcasts, video archive), educational outreach to schools, public engagement, and an online shop selling books, replicas and heritage-inspired merchandise.

Product overview

The Ness of Brodgar is an archaeological research project and public-facing educational website documenting a major prehistoric complex in Neolithic Orkney. The project offers physical merchandise through its online shop (books, cards, prints, replicas, jewellery, knitting kits, woodturned bowls, and original art) and digital resources (3D models, podcasts, and video archives). It is not a technology company with software products; rather, it is a research initiative that shares archaeological findings through educational content and retail goods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Books Published books about the Ness of Brodgar archaeological site, its excavations, and Neolithic Orkney history, sold to the general public through the project shop.
• Cards & Prints Greeting cards and printed materials featuring Ness of Brodgar imagery, archaeological illustrations, and site photography.
• Carved Stone Ball Replicas Replicas of the famous Neolithic carved stone balls discovered at the Ness of Brodgar site.
• Jewellery Jewellery items inspired by or featuring designs from the Ness of Brodgar archaeological findings.
• Knitting Kits & Patterns Knitting kits and patterns featuring Ness of Brodgar-inspired designs.
• Woodturned Bowls Handcrafted woodturned bowls available through the Ness of Brodgar shop.
• Original Art Original artwork inspired by the Ness of Brodgar archaeological site and Neolithic Orkney.
• 3D Models Interactive 3D models of excavation trenches, structures, and artefacts created using photogrammetry, made available online for public and academic access.
• Podcasts Audio podcasts including Time Team collaborations discussing Ness of Brodgar discoveries, excavation news and archaeology.
• Video Archive Video recordings of dig activities, site tours and archaeological presentations hosted on the project website.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,200 public visitors in 2026 excavation season
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• UHI Archaeology InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research supervision, student involvement, and institutional support. Multiple PhD researchers and students work on Ness materials.
• Time TeammajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia collaboration producing weekly podcasts about the Ness during excavation seasons, providing significant public engagement and outreach.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stonehenge (English Heritage): Major prehistoric monument in southern England managed by English Heritage with a large visitor centre, ticketed admissions, and merchandise operations. Comparable as a high-profile UK prehistoric heritage site with public engagement and retail, but much larger in scale and scope.
• Historic Environment Scotland: Scottish public body that manages and operates many of the country's heritage sites including Skara Brae and other Heart of Neolithic Orkney WHS components. Comparable as the institutional steward operating heritage assets in the same geography and regulatory environment.

Direct peers

• Çatalhöyük Research Project: Long-running international archaeological research project at a major Neolithic site in Turkey. Comparable in scale, multi-decade research methodology, public engagement strategy, and academic partnership model.
• Flag Fen Archaeology: Bronze Age archaeological site in eastern England with an on-site museum, visitor engagement, and educational outreach. Comparable as a UK prehistoric heritage site combining research, public access, and educational programming.
• Skara Brae: Neolithic settlement located within the same Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site as the Ness of Brodgar. Operated as a visitor attraction by Historic Environment Scotland, it is the closest comparable site in terms of period, geography, and audience.
• Sutton Hoo (National Trust): Anglo-Saxon archaeological site in Suffolk managed by the National Trust with a major visitor centre and exhibition. Comparable as a flagship UK archaeological site combining research, interpretation, retail, and education for a mass audience.
• Must Farm: Late Bronze Age settlement site in Cambridgeshire, UK, that gained wide public attention through media coverage of well-preserved timbers and artefacts. Comparable as a UK prehistoric site combining research, media exposure, and public interest.

Emerging players

• DigVentures: Commercial crowd-funded archaeological excavation company that runs community digs, online engagement, and merchandise. Comparable as an archaeology-focused organisation blending public participation, donations, digital content, and branded retail.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/nessofbrodgar
• Instagraminstagram.com/nessofbrodgar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ness-of-brodgar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ness of Brodgar