A highly anticipated documentary from Time Team is set to premiere this week, as archaeologists gear up to investigate a captivating geophysical anomaly at one of Europe’s most significant Neolithic sites.
The renowned team is returning to the Ness of Brodgar this summer after the discovery of a perplexing circular feature, initially uncovered during a final phase of geophysical survey in 2024. The intriguing anomaly has prompted a new, targeted excavation in collaboration with the Ness of Brodgar team. While the exact nature of the feature remains a mystery, it marks an exciting new development in the story of one of Britain’s most important prehistoric landscapes.
The discovery will be revealed for the first time in Time Team’s latest documentary, premiering in Orkney on Friday 3rd July, before being made available to Time Team members on Patreon later that evening. The film will have its public YouTube debut on 18th July.
The documentary follows the final weeks of excavation at the Ness before the trenches were backfilled, documenting both the end of over twenty years of fieldwork and the astonishing geophysical survey that hinted at the possibility of further discoveries.
Now, with the documentary’s release, Time Team has returned to Orkney to investigate the newly identified feature alongside the Ness of Brodgar team.
Dr John Gater, Time Team’s expert in geophysics, stated:
“The survey revealed something that none of us were expecting. At this stage, we are still unsure of what exactly the feature represents. It could turn out to be archaeology from a different period, possibly even a Bronze Age burial cairn, or perhaps something even more remarkable… This is precisely why we are going back to investigate.”
Tim Taylor, Creator and Executive Producer of Time Team, commented:
“One of the most thrilling aspects of archaeology is that it never truly ends. Even after years of excavation, new technology can uncover fresh questions that we never thought to ask. The Ness of Brodgar has revolutionized our understanding of Neolithic Britain over the past two decades, and the possibility that there is still more to be revealed is incredibly exciting. We are thrilled to be collaborating with the Ness team once again.”
The excavation will take place throughout July as part of a research project aimed at answering the questions raised by the geophysical survey.
This new dig follows Time Team’s longstanding association with Orkney, dating back more than twenty years. Dr John Gater conducted some of the earliest geophysical surveys at the Ness, aiding in the identification of the extraordinary archaeology that would later become internationally renowned.
The new documentary also delves into the emotional conclusion of the original excavation, featuring interviews with project directors Nick Card, Professor Mark Edmonds, and Anne Mitchell, alongside state-of-the-art visualizations and expert analysis explaining why the Ness of Brodgar continues to reshape our understanding of Neolithic Britain.
Thanks to the support of Time Team’s Patreon members, both the documentary and the new excavation have been independently funded, allowing audiences to follow the archaeological investigation as it unfolds throughout July. Additional support has been provided by the Ness of Brodgar Trust, the American Friends of the Ness of Brodgar, UHI Archaeology Institute, and the Orkney Islands Council.
Documentary Release Schedule
3 July – World premiere at the Ness of Brodgar, followed by exclusive release on Patreon.
18 July – Public YouTube premiere.
Time Team will be on site from 6th July to early August, with Sir Tony Robinson returning to film the excavation.
Throughout July, Time Team members on Patreon will receive behind-the-scenes updates as the excavation progresses at the Ness.
