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Ancient Altar Found on Deserted Scottish Island
18 Sep
Summary
- Student explorers found altar foundations and a step.
- The ruins are on the remote, uninhabited island of Swona.
- The church likely dates to the 10th or 11th century.
Students from Gordonstoun school made a significant archaeological discovery on the remote Scottish island of Swona. While participating in the annual Swona Service Project, the pupils unearthed the foundations of an altar and a step within previously known ruins.
These findings lend strong support to the local belief that the structure, long referred to as a 'kirk,' was indeed an early medieval church. The architectural characteristics of the ruins, including their size, orientation, and construction methods, align with early medieval church designs, suggesting a construction date of the 10th or 11th century.
The students' work on the excavation, coupled with their efforts to restore a local house and pump water from a thousand-year-old well, provided a unique, immersive experience. Future investigations are planned, aiming to further analyze the site using advanced technology and to understand the historical context of communities on such remote islands.
