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Norfolk Archaeological Trust Appoints Professor Will Bowden as President

The Norfolk Archaeological Trust (NAT) is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Will Bowden as its new President. 

Professor Bowden brings a wealth of expertise and passion for heritage, with a distinguished career in Roman archaeology and community engagement. 

Currently Professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of Nottingham, Will has led major research projects across Europe and the UK, including extensive work at Caistor St Edmund as part of the Caistor Roman Project. His research has transformed understanding of Roman towns and their development, and he is committed to making archaeology accessible to all.

Speaking about his appointment, Professor Bowden said: “I am honoured to take on the role of President at NAT. Norfolk’s archaeological heritage is extraordinary, and I look forward to working with the Trust and local communities to ensure these sites are protected and celebrated for generations to come.”

Jonathan Sisson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, told That's Books and Entertainment: “Will’s leadership and expertise will be invaluable as we continue our mission to safeguard Norfolk’s historic sites and share their stories with everyone.”

The Norfolk Archaeological Trust, founded in 1923, owns some of the county’s most iconic historic monuments, including Caistor Roman Town, Burgh Castle Fort, and St Benet’s Abbey. The Trust works closely with local communities to conserve these irreplaceable sites and make them accessible for everyone.

For more information about NAT and its work, visit www.norfarchtrust.org.uk

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Time Team returns to Orkney to reveal groundbreaking new discoveries at the Ness of Brodgar

Time Team, the world’s most recognisable archaeological investigation series, has reunited with the Ness of Brodgar research team to unveil a remarkable new chapter in the story of one of Europe’s most important Neolithic sites.

During summer 2024, Time Team filmed the final season of excavation at the Ness of Brodgar - a vast complex of monumental Neolithic buildings set between the iconic Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar in Mainland, Orkney. 

The trenches have now been backfilled, but the investigation did not stop there. In partnership with the Ness team, Time Team carried out a final phase of cutting-edge geophysical survey across the entire site.

For Time Team’s Dr John Gater, it was “like coming home”. Over 20 years ago, his early geophysical work was key to identifying the astonishing settlement that would later captivate the world as the Ness of Brodgar.

This time, the results of the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey, carried out in collaboration with Guideline Geo and SUMO GeoSurveys, surpassed even the team’s highest hopes.

A major new discovery — “We weren’t expecting that!"

”The survey has revealed the positions of multiple previously unknown Neolithic buildings - some of them monumental in scale - expanding the known footprint of the complex and offering a deeper understanding of its development over five thousand years ago.

But one discovery stood apart.

When Time Team shared the geophysics with the Ness project directors - Nick Card, Professor Mark Edmonds, and Anne Mitchell - their reaction said everything.

“We weren’t expecting that,” said Director Nick Card.

“The new buildings are fascinating,” added Anne Mitchell, “but there’s one feature unlike anything we’ve seen so far.”

“Oh dear,” laughed Mark Edmonds. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have buried my trowel on site.”

The findings have raised the possibility that - even after two decades of excavation - the Ness still holds secrets that require a final, targeted look.

Time Team will join the Ness team in summer 2026 for one more excavation season, culminating in a Time Team special to be broadcast later in 2026.

A partnership two decades in the making

The relationship with Orkney is long-standing, stretching back to A Viking boat burial on Sanday in 1998, the enigmatic Iron Age site at Mine Howe in 2000 and more recently at Swandro on Rousay in 2025. The Ness of Brodgar has been a defining project for modern archaeology, drawing international attention and reshaping our understanding of Neolithic Britain.

Tim Taylor, Creator and Executive Producer of Time Team, told That's Books and Entertainment: “We’ve been privileged to follow the Ness story for over 20 years. To return now - at the end of its excavation phase - and to contribute new discoveries of this scale is extraordinary. The Ness continues to surprise us all.”

Time Team’s recent renaissance, driven by one of the world’s largest global online audiences for archaeology, has enabled the team to reconnect with sites of exceptional importance. Their expansion of the classic three-day format into long-form documentaries - including recent work at Sutton Hoo and major projects across the UK - has brought a new level of depth, analysis, and public engagement to their investigations.

A site of global significance

The Ness of Brodgar lies within the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, among the most significant prehistoric landscapes in Europe. 

Tens of thousands of visitors travel to Orkney each summer to witness the excavations before they closed in 2024.

Time Team’s new documentary will share this final chapter - with expert insights, reconstructed models, geophysics visualisations, and exclusive interviews with the Ness of Brodgar team.

What’s next

Time Team’s films will explore:

the final season of excavation at the Ness

the emotional close of two decades of fieldwork

the new geophysical discoveries

what they reveal about life, ritual, and architecture 5,000 years ago

the new month long excavation in 2026

This will be one of the most significant Neolithic investigations Time Team has ever released.

https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/

Incidentally over the years Time Team has published more learned works on archaeological digs than some university archaeology departments!