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University of Aberdeen

Rock matters: a geological basis for understanding the Rock at the Ness of Brodgar, Orkney

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This research introduced a geological perspective into an archaeological setting, the Ness of Brodgar, a middle to late Neolithic site in the West Mainland of Orkney. Discovered in 2003, the site is located on an isthmus of land between two lochs and is equidistant between the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness stone circles. The site consists of more than two dozen drystone buildings encircled by a massive wall. To date, ten per cent of the site has been excavated,<br/><br/>This research established a systematic framework of protocols and procedures for recovery, macro geological assessment and identification of the rock and the mineral species in the non-tool, non-structural rocks, termed <i>Foreign Stone</i> for this research.

Degree

thesis:*
Name dc:type.qualificationname
Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by OU/Aberdeen)
Level dc:type.qualificationlevel
Doctoral Thesis
Grantor dc:publisher.institution
University of Aberdeen
Year dc:date.issued
2019

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Johnson, Martha J
Advisors dc:contributor.advisor
  • Mainland, Ingrid
  • Downes, Jane

Rights

Language dc:language
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/35a10496-af10-4ce7-b8a2-ec55631d3283
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/35a10496-af10-4ce7-b8a2-ec55631d3283

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of the Highlands and Islands
Base URL
pureadmin.uhi.ac.uk/ws/oai
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Johnson, Martha J. Rock matters: a geological basis for understanding the Rock at the Ness of Brodgar, Orkney. Doctoral Thesis thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2019. https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/35a10496-af10-4ce7-b8a2-ec55631d3283