Our second dig of the 2026 season gets under way on Monday, with archaeologists, students and volunteers from the UHI Archaeology Institute back at the multi-period settlement site at Skaill, Rousay.
Geophysical survey revealed features below the surviving remains of the 18/19th century buildings that correspond to several earthworks, such as platforms and enclosures, visible on the ground surface.
The present farmstead is on a low mound, suggesting that the ground built up over numerous phases of activity.
In its early phases, it was a high status site with the Norse hall that we partly exposed in 2019. It expanded in the late Norse and Medieval period to include the large farm to the east, The Wirk hall-tower (that we investigated in 2021) and medieval chapel below St Mary’s Kirk (with its very fine moulded red sandstone features).
Skaill expanded again in the 17th and 18th centuries with a new house (excavated in Trench 19), before infilling and eventually being completely remodelled and modernised in the late 18th to early 19th century.
This season’s goal is to complete excavation on the eastern side of the settlement mound, focusing on the 18th century house and medieval structures below. Next year will see a new project to investigate the Norse house, on the western side of the Skaill settlement.
The dig runs until Friday, July 24. Visitors are welcome on the site on weekdays, with an open day on Saturday, July 18.
To access the dig site, park at the Midhowe cairn/broch car park, walk down the path, turn left at shore and follow the path beyond the kirk.
