Rousay
Orkney
Please note that this event has already happened.
To see upcoming events please visit the Events page.
To see upcoming events please visit the Events page.
Join archaeologists in Rousay to discover the secrets of the Skaill excavations.
The Skaill team is back in Rousay next month, for a free walk and talk about the ongoing excavations.
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 were back on site for three weeks, from July 8-26, and the latest discoveries will be the subject of the walk and talk on Saturday, November 16.
The day begins with the walk to, and tour of, the Skaill site. This departs from the Midhowe car park at 10.30am. Following a soup-and-sandwich lunch, the talk will take place in the community room at 2pm.
The events are free and open to all, and there’s no need to book. Just turn up on the day. Ferry transport to Rousay and back must be book separately.
