Final Ness of Brodgar excavations under way

The site has been uncovered for a final time

The final season of excavations at a famous archaeological site in Orkney is under way.

The complex of buildings at Ness of Brodgar was discovered in 2003, and a series of important finds have been made since.

It is widely regarded as one of the most significant archaeological sites in Europe.

At the end of August the field will be covered over for a final time in a bid to preserve it for future generations.

Ness of Brodgar is near the Ring of Brodgar stone circle.

The site forms part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.

Important finds made by volunteers over the years have included human bone, artwork, pottery and stone tools.

It re-opened to the public on Wednesday for daily site tours, following the removal again of covers, sandbags and hundreds of rainwater-filled tyres.

Digging has been taking place at Ness Of Brodgar for two decades

Nick Card, site co-director, said if it was left open then very quickly the stone would start to disintegrate.

"So the best way to preserve it is to re-cover it, return it to the conditions that have kept it safe for the last 5,000 years," he told BBC Scotland News.

"And it's leaving the site for future generations to maybe come back, do further work here, and probably add to the story that we have created about the Ness."