Neolithic

The Brodgar Stone

The Brodgar Stone in Christopher Gee's interpretation in colour.
The original Brodgar Stone. Photo from Nessofbrodgar blog, courtesy of Orkney Library Photographic Archive. The Brodgar Stone in Christopher Gee's interpretation in colour. Over the past few weeks I have been creating my own version of the Brodgar Stone as a present for friends. The original Brodgar Stone was found in 1925 at the Ness [...]Read more of The Brodgar Stone...

“Wrapped” carved stone ball from Hillhead, St Ola parish, Orkney

The form of this carved stone ball is based closely on a Late Neolithic ball found at Hillhead, St Ola, Orkney in the late 19th Century. The carved square patterns, chevrons and spiralling lines are also found on Orcadian Neolithic grooved ware pottery and decorated stonework. It is possible that the spiralling design and pleated chevron could provide a rare representation of an organic cord binding and wrapping around a carved stone ball that normally wouldn’t survive. This ball has been pecked and carved to shape by Orcadian archaeologist Christopher Gee using the same local stone tools and techniques as used in the Late Neolithic. The ball is made from Orkney Red Sandstone which has been used for its colour and texture in architecture at the Ness of Brodgar. The central upright column in Stucture 10’s central dresser was made from the same peck-dressed red sandstone. During the Middle Ages red sandstone was also used in St Magnus Cathedral and other high status Orcadian buildings.

The form of this carved stone ball is based closely on a Late Neolithic ball found at Hillhead, St Ola, Orkney in the late 19th Century. The carved square patterns, chevrons and spiralling lines are also found on Orcadian Neolithic grooved ware pottery and decorated stonework. It is possible that the spiralling design and pleated […]

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Making the Skara Brae three-pointed object

Stone sculpture by Chris Gee based on Skara Brae three-pointed object. Made for Historic Environment Scotland.
I have just finished making the Skara Brae sculpted stone object. It was commissioned by HES for the Rangers’ handling collection to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage designation. I began with a piece of T shaped flagstone, the same material as the original. I chipped it down to [...]Read more of Making the Skara Brae three-pointed object...

Archaeology in Orkney: What should I see? Handy map and bucket list

Looking into Skara Brae house 1, Skaill, Orkney
Are you coming to Orkney? Are you keen to see archaeology? Orkney is fantastic for archaeology! It's difficult to choose what to see or where to go. Therefore, I have helped you out with this handy map (link at the bottom). I would be happy to guide you, or you can visit on your own. [...]Read more of Archaeology in Orkney: What should I see? Handy map and bucket list...

Chocolate archaeology for Christmas

Brodgar Archaeological Chocolate is now in William Shearer's very special Christmas shop, Kirkwall.
Brodgar Archaeological Chocolate at Kirkness and Gorie, Kirkwall. Christmas at Kirkness & Gorie Kirkness and Gorie is a very old family run shop in Kirkwall, specialising in good wine, good cheese and good food, and therefore the ideal place to find Christmas gifts. Ingrid and Duncan, the owners, have supported Brodgar Archaeological Chocolate from the [...]Read more of Chocolate archaeology for Christmas...

Ness of Brodgar open day

A busy day with lots of fun for Chris at his stone tools table. Ness of Brodgar Open Day, 20 August 2017.
It was a buzzing day at the Ness of Brodgar today. The second and last Open Day of the season, before the site closes down next week. Although the Ness is of course open for visitors every day during the excavation period, with tours (some of them given by our Chris), the Open Days are [...]Read more of Ness of Brodgar open day...

New: Chocolate carved stone ball

original carved stone ball from the Ness of Brodgar

Here is a new product I have just started making: A dark chocolate Carved Stone Ball. A carved stone ball is a stone age artefact type found in Scotland. This chocolate version is the exact shape and size of the one found at the Ness of Brodgar, Orkney, in 2013. It has six bosses, arranged […]

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The carved stone ball from Yarhouse

Yarhouse carved stone ball, by Chris Gee, photographed at Gurness Broch. Yarhouse carved stone ball, by Chris Gee, photographed at Gurness Broch. It has been a busy weekend, with organising the re-enactment of the martyrdom of St Magnus in Egilsay on Saturday, and having fun with egg rolling and the launch of the St Magnus [...]Read more of The carved stone ball from Yarhouse...

Did you watch BBC2 Britain’s Ancient Capital, Secrets of Orkney?

Chris Gee archaeologist and sculptor.

I’m sure many of you watched BBC2 tonight, Britain’s Ancient Capital, Secrets of Orkney, with Neil Oliver. Did you spot Christopher Gee? He had so much fun last summer, filming with the BBC here in our garden, showing how to make a mace similar to the one found at the Ness of Brodgar. If you […]

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Brodgar chocolate now available at Artworks of the Earth

Congratulations to Jeannie Rose, who has opened her new and bigger shop and art workshop, Artworks of the Earth, in Stromness! There is such a lot to see in Jeannie’s shop. She takes in the most beautiful and imaginative things made by local artists, in addition to her own distinctive, colourful designs. We are really […]

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Ness of Brodgar event at Ola Gorie’s The Longship

Ness of Brodgar Decorated Stone Neolithic milk chocolate

I was really thrilled today to be offered the opportunity to have the Ness of Brodgar chocolate included in a Ness of Brodgar event at jewellery designer Ola Gorie’s shop in Kirkwall, The Longship. The Ness of Brodgar excavation itself is situated at Ola’s home, Brodgar farm, and the finds from there have inspired Ola […]

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A delightful open day at the Ness of Brodgar

We had a huge response today at the Ness of Brodgar open day. There was a very big turnout, both of archaeology staff and artists and craftspeople, and of visitors. Christopher and our ten-year-old were busy all afternoon with the bow drill and the hematite colouring, to show how the beautiful stone artefacts from the […]

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End of season sale on Brodgar Chocolate

The excavation at the fabulous Ness of Brodgar is coming to an end for this season. We are therefore having a sale with 40% off the remaining stock of this beautiful Ness of Brodgar Decorated Stone chocolate on Sunday 21st August. You can find us at the Ness open day, where Christopher will also demonstrate […]

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How do you move a standing stone?

10 July 2016: People who visit the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness — our two stones circles here in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney — wonder how people in the Stone Age managed to move those huge stones from where they were quarried to where they stand now. The BBC was […]

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Brodgar Chocolate launches on 6th July 2016

We are really excited that our launch date is getting near! Our chocolate replicas of archaeological finds from the Ness of Brodgar will be for sale in the Ness of Brodgar site shop from the 6th of July, when the 2016 excavation opens to the public. We are proud of our two chocolate products: A […]

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The Hogboon of Helliehow

On impulse, we took the ferry out to Sanday, but quickly discovered that 24 hours was nowhere near enough time to explore everything we wanted to see there. One thing I wanted to explore in particular, was Helliehow up in the north end of Sanday. I have been into mound folklore lately, especially those stories […]

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Neolithic art in Wideford Cairn

6 Feb 2016: Wideford Cairn is a good destination when you want some fresh air, but don’t want a long or demanding walk. Just five minutes’ drive out of Kirkwall, you can drive up Wideford Hill for the start of the walk. As we parked, we enjoyed a spectacular bird’s eye view of Kirkwall looking […]

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