Here we are, right in front of the UHI Archaeology Institute-a place where mud on your boots is practically a badge of honor. If the walls here could talk, they'd probably say, “So, did you find anything interesting yet?” But don’t worry, you won’t need a trowel for today’s visit, just your curiosity!
Founded in 2014, the UHI Archaeology Institute is still a young’un by Orkney standards, but it’s already made quite a name for itself. It all started when Orkney College’s archaeology department teamed up with the Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology-also known as ORCA. Imagine a group of passionate diggers, cup of tea always at the ready, determined to unearth stories buried deep beneath the Orkney soil. That’s essentially the vibe here. The institute even has a superhero leader-Professor Jane Downes-though I can’t confirm if she wears a cape indoors.
You’re standing in the heart of a place where ancient sites and cutting-edge research collide, and where students from all over come to dig up the past-literally! UHI doesn’t just train would-be Indiana Joneses, it helps keep Orkney’s incredible history alive and buzzing. Their programs have been so popular that one year, students gave their Masters courses a 100% satisfaction rating-statistically more than my own cooking ever gets.
ORCA, the commercial arm, has its own exciting job-think of them as the detectives-for-hire of the Neolithic world. They help out with excavations all around Orkney (and prevent the postman from tripping over a 5,000-year-old stone). In fact, the institute’s work at hotspots like the Ness of Brodgar has been splashed across the news, drawing in history fans from all over. Between 2014 and 2020, over 700,000 people flocked to see the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, bringing over £50 million into the local economy. That’s a lot of cheese sandwiches at the local café!
So next time you pass a muddy archaeologist looking thoughtful, now you know-they might just be on the verge of their next great discovery right here. And you can say you visited the very spot where the adventure begins!
