The trial excavation here for the Ness of Brodgar dig has uncovered another 'great wall' and it is interesting to note that this is at right angles to the standing stone pair, 'pointing' across the gap (centrally ?)
Like the barnhouse stone, these two are best seen by visiting Brogar from the Stones of Stenness sans automobile. You could see them from the road, but it would be a case of 'blink and you miss'em' or even mistake the gateposts up the road for them.
Be wary though, for the road is not wide, and the cars come down fast.
This pair of standing stones (the 3rd pair known to have existed in this region, the only still complete pair there) should perhaps have an alternative name of Bridgend rather than Brodgar Farm as this appears to be the name of the associated cottage . It does seem passing strange though that Brodgar Cottage has a similar arrangement , with stones embedded in a small hillock parallel to the road and on the 'downhill' side of a cottage at right angles to the road. But at the farm the stones are 'only' a pair of strangely isolated gateposts . The very slight mound (before you reach the standing stones) in the area appears by geophysics to be a probable broch , there is nothing to be seen there apart from the hill itself and a big scoop showing excavation .
In order to enlarge a field by the Bridge of Brodgar a large amount of a tumulus had to be removed as it impinged upon the corner. The labourers had cut a section 3-4' deep and thrown the earth removed up onto the mound. Amongst the discard they found what is described as a sinker. Description of 'sinker' is an incised water-worn sandstone 7 1/2 inches long, a tapered oblong with a groove around the side. One side quartered to contain sadly degraded images, other decorated with two fishes and a probable seal. Yep, it's that stone. No wonder this site had been ascribed to a [Pictish] broch. Some years before an arrow-head and a scraper, both of flint, had been found in the mound. (P.S.A.S. XXII [1887-8] article by James Noble).
The mound appears to have been dug even earlier as Thomas' map of 1851 has some detail of the structure [not apparent on reproductions] including an entrance passage along the side facing the road. Cut was made near back of tumulus. Now I have had a photocopy fom the library and using an Agfa lupe my passage runs along the N side of the east lobe of a kidney shape occupying the S side of the ?top. Opposite the west lobe is a circle and then a curve runs arond the remaining [north-eastern quadrant], possibly joining the outside line of the 'kidney'.
The chambered tomb mound can be seen on 2 photos in "Current Archaeology" April 2010 article on Ness of Brodgar : p.12 behind house, p.15 behind Lochview stones [if these were part of an avenue between the stone circles it would have to be fairly sinuous to go around the mound]
I have now determined that the chambered mound (HY31SW 20 at HY30391280) is the same as the Kokna-cumming "burnt mound" (RCAMS 1946 Inventory 899, HY31SW 28).
Until the end of the month there are guided tours of the present Ness of Brodgar dig. Went on one today and learnt that the Lochview mound is a tomb with revetments that has suffered from the whole area being levelled off in 19thC agricultural improvements. A test pit previously found scalloped and decorated Grooved Ware. Also pitchstone from Arran (found in the current excavation too, which is uncovering evidence for another chambered tomb, perhaps two).
As we now have chambered tombs at the Ness of Brodgar and the Point Of Onston perhaps the Girnaness site, lying between them near the Standing Stones Hotel, should be re-assessed. Unfortunately this enigmatic multi-period site is rather fragmentary and mostly underwater.
An apparent series of rings forming the Brodgar Farm cairn had been read in support of this being a broch. But as a result of assessing the later and clearer Ness of Brodgar Settlement geophysics results Nick Card is strongly inclined to see these as more indicative of a chambered tomb, probably of the Maes Howe type. This then explains the lack of broch buildings or secondary broch settlement.
Excavations this past fortnight show that the Lochview settlement mound represents a series of Neolithic settlements probably covering 2.5 hectares. Towards its western outskirts geophysics may be showing us a chambered cairn. Geophysics also shows up a 'wall corner' (one of whose sides follows the modern road for about 10m) and apparent paving was revealed by a thin trench across it.
Source "The Orcadian" of June 17th. http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/brodgardig.htm
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