Wednesday, August 20, 2008
(Previous entries available here)

Gavin with his star find.

As excavation for this season draws to a close, as usual something has turned up on the last day of final recording, before we start backfilling tomorrow. 

While cleaning back for the final photos of Structure 8, Gavin noticed a small section of unusual stone on top of one of the structure's walls.

The macehead as first revealed.

Cleaning carefully back he revealed a beautiful macehead, very reminiscent of the one we discovered on the first day of excavation last year!

Like the last one, this too had been broken across the perforation – a common occurrence for maceheads, that seems to have been a deliberate act before they were deposited in the ground.

A quite remarkable find that has cheered us all up as we prepare to put the site to ‘bed’ till next season –but what a memorable season – even more to look forward to next year – roll on 2009!!

The macehead removed from the ground.

Many thanks from us all to all our sponsors and supporters – the Orkney Islands Council, the Robert Kiln Trust, Friends of the Orkney Archaeological Trust, Orkney College and Sandra and Elaine the Historic Scotland Rangers; all the volunteers from every corner of the world; Sigurd Towrie of Orkneyjar for hosting our web diary; and last but not least the hospitality of the land owners involved: Ola and Arnie Tait and John and Carol Hoey, without whose permission and understanding none of this would be possible.

See you all next year!

Final photos of Structure 8 for this year.