Neolithic

The Brodgar Stone

Posted on July 28, 2020

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image source="external_link" external_img_size="large" custom_src="https://i2.wp.com/www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Brodgar-Stone.jpg?resize=768%2C449&ssl=1" caption="The original Brodgar Stone. Photo from Nessofbrodgar blog, courtesy of Orkney Library Photographic Archive."][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image source="featured_image" img_size="full" add_caption="yes"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]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 of Brodgar after the field there was ploughed. The stone was, up until recently, thought to have formed part of a stone cist, a box containing a prehistoric burial or cremation. It seems likely now that the “cists” were part of the architecture of structure 8. The hole from 1925 was located there during the recent excavations. Although I set out to reproduce the incised patterns fairly closely on the original stone I ended up doing it...

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.

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

Posted on February 11, 2020

in Neolithic

by Ragnhild Ljosland

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...

Stone sculpture by Chris Gee based on Skara Brae three-pointed object. Made for Historic Environment Scotland.

Making the Skara Brae three-pointed object

Posted on June 12, 2019

in Neolithic

by Ragnhild Ljosland

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][vc_single_image image="2043"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]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 as close to the shape of the original as I could using hard igneous Quoyelsh Felsite – a stone type also widely used as a hammer here in the Neolithic. After that I started using coarse Yesnaby sandstone to grind it down eventually working up to finer quartzite to smooth the surface. Once the shape was there it just remained to engrave the lines and grooves with flint and then finished it off...

Looking into Skara Brae house 1, Skaill, Orkney

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

Posted on February 2, 2019

in Bronze Age, Iron Age, Medieval, Neolithic, Norse and Viking

by Ragnhild Ljosland

[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" oblique_section="no" text_align="left" css_animation="" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text css=""]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. Some sites are free, some are ticketed, some are open and freely accessible all the time, while others are archaeological excavations that are only open as long as the archaeologists are working there. Below is a quick list. Digs: Ness of Brodgar - Neolithic. The most spectacular and world renowned! Must not miss this! Dig active from early July to mid August. The Cairns: Iron Age broch and surrounding buildings, and...

Brodgar Archaeological Chocolate is now in William Shearer's very special Christmas shop, Kirkwall.

Chocolate archaeology for Christmas

Posted on October 31, 2017

in Chocolate, Medieval, Neolithic, Norse and Viking

by Ragnhild Ljosland

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="563" img_size="large" add_caption="yes" alignment="center" style="vc_box_shadow_border"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text] 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 start in 2016 and Kirkness & Gorie was indeed the first shop to stock our chocolate archaeology. Their family owns the land where the Ness of Brodgar archaeological site was found, and the Neolithic artwork from there has also inspired Ingrid's mother Ola Gorie, the jewellery designer. Kirkness & Gorie now stocks almost the full range of our chocolates: Ness of Brodgar designs, Viking ships, various varieties of the Viking whalebone plaque from Sanday, and Viking gold and...

Ness of Brodgar open day

Posted on August 20, 2017

in Chocolate, Neolithic

by Ragnhild Ljosland

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text]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 extra special, with lots of activities. Chris was busy from start to finish at his stone tools stand. Here, visitors got to see and try out how people in the Neolithic would have made stone axes, maces, artwork and carved stone balls. Meanwhile, the last carved stone ball was sold from the site shop, so he's now got to get round to making some more. I (Raggie) and our two boys manned the chocolate table. We...

original carved stone ball from the Ness of Brodgar

New: Chocolate carved stone ball

Posted on July 20, 2017

in Chocolate, Neolithic

by Ragnhild Ljosland

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 in two groups of three, stacked above each other. This arrangement is unique. The chocolate version is, in shape and size, very close to the original from the Ness of Brodgar. The chocolate mould is made around the model carved by Chris Gee (see image below), which when weighed is within ten grams of the original artefact. At the moment, the chocolate carved stone balls are for sale at the Ness of Brodgar dig shop, and the Brig...

The carved stone ball from Yarhouse

Posted on April 17, 2017

in Neolithic

by Ragnhild Ljosland

[caption id="attachment_405" align="alignnone" width="300"] Yarhouse carved stone ball, by Chris Gee, photographed at Gurness Broch.[/caption] [vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="405" img_size="Full" add_caption="yes"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]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 pilgrimage route on Sunday. But in amongst all of this, Christopher somehow managed to find time to finish the carved stone ball from Yarhouse in Caithness, commissioned by the Caithness Broch Project. The 5000 year old original has sadly been mislaid or lost, so a photo was all he had to go on. The layout of the bosses is quite unusual in this one: eight larger and three smaller ones between. Intriguing, but very beautiful! Christopher has decided not to call them...

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

Posted on January 9, 2017

in Neolithic, World War 1 and 2

by Ragnhild Ljosland

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 missed it, you can catch up here and see how Chris makes his Neolithic artwork: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b088pnv1/britains-ancient-capital-secrets-of-orkney-episode-2 Want your own carved stone ball, mace head or colourful patterned Brodgar stone? Contact us! [caption id="attachment_350" align="alignnone" width="300"] Neolithic Mace Head, by Chris Gee.[/caption]...

Brodgar chocolate now available at Artworks of the Earth

Posted on December 10, 2016

in Chocolate, Neolithic

by Ragnhild Ljosland

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 happy to have Brodgar chocolate for sale there. Soon to come is also some stone artwork by Christopher. [caption id="attachment_327" align="alignnone" width="300"] Brodgar chocolate happily nestled among other Orkney products at Artworks of the Earth.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_328" align="alignnone" width="300"] You are always welcome in Jeannie's shop. Come in an tak a peep![/caption] ...

Ness of Brodgar Decorated Stone Neolithic milk chocolate

Ness of Brodgar event at Ola Gorie’s The Longship

Posted on November 19, 2016

in Chocolate, Neolithic

by Ragnhild Ljosland

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. [caption id="attachment_324" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ness of Brodgar Decorated Chocolate Stone, at Ola Gorie's.[/caption] The Ness of Brodgar excavation itself is situated at Ola's home, Brodgar farm, and the finds from there have inspired Ola to create the most beautiful line of jewellery. These were all naturally radiating from their showcases in the shop, while our chocolate hoped to tempt visitors, along with elegant drinks served by the ever welcoming Ola herself. ...

A delightful open day at the Ness of Brodgar

Posted on August 21, 2016

in Chocolate, Neolithic

by Ragnhild Ljosland

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 Ness were made. [caption id="attachment_291" align="alignnone" width="300"] The bow drill in action at the Ness of Brodgar open day[/caption] Meanwhile, I, Raggie, was in the sales tent manning the chocolate table. It was great to meet so many people who were genuinely interested in discussing chocolate archaeology -- and trying some, of course. [caption id="attachment_290" align="alignnone" width="169"] Raggie mans the chocolate stand at the Ness of Brodgar Open Day[/caption] I have been thinking about how to develop new chocolate...