Folk in Rousay will get an update on the ongoing UHI Archaeology Institute excavation at Skaill farm next week, with a talk scheduled for Monday, March 9.
As well as outlining the latest discoveries, Dan Lee, Dr Julia Cussans and Dr Clea Paine will be joined by the world-famous Skaill carved head – a chance to see this wonderful artefact up close.
The talk, in the community room at the school, begins at 7.30pm.
The project is exploring the farmstead at Skaill from the Norse period to its abandonment in the 19th century.
Geophysical survey had revealed features below the surviving remains that corresponded to several earthworks, such as platforms and enclosures, visible on the ground surface.
The present farm at Skaill dates to the 18-19th centuries and was part of the Rousay clearances during the mid-19th century. The name, Skaill, however, had long suggested the site was home to a Norse hall or drinking hall and was a high-status site.
And in 2019, the remains of an 11th or 12th century AD Norse hall were revealed to the west of the farmhouse.
This year, the diggers will be back on site from Monday, July 6 – Friday, July 24, 2026.
