A Viking chieftain, lying in his longboat surrounded by his sword, knife, spear and drinking horn, with his cloak held with a pin from Ireland and his shield lying across his chest - it's the sort of discovery archaeologists dream of.
Yet this is what Ardnamurchan Transitions Project archaeologists have recently unearthed on Ardnamurchan Estate land - picture above shows the site, and the stones on which the boat was placed before burial, after which more stones and earth were piled on top. The archaeologists, from the Universities of Manchester and Leicester, CFA Archaeology based in Edinburgh, and Archaeology Scotland, had already been working on Ardnamurchan's north coast for five years when, in July this year, they stumbled across this historic find, the first of its type on the British mainland.
Many local people, particularly workers on the Ardnamurchan Estate, knew of the discovery, yet it has been a well-kept secret until now, allowing the team to clean and conserve their finds, and to obtain confirmation from experts that this was, indeed, a Viking burial dated to about 1000AD. In fact, one Estate employee was responsible for unearthing the sword - x-ray picture shown above.
This sketch shows what the grave would have looked like. Co-Director of the project and archaeology Teaching Fellow Dr Hannah Cobb, from the University of Manchester, said, “This is a very exciting find. Though we have excavated many important artefacts over the years on Ardnamurchan, I think it’s fair to say that this year the archaeology has really exceeded our expectations. A Viking boat burial is an incredible discovery, but in addition to that, the artefacts and preservation make this one of the most important Norse graves ever excavated in Britain."
The Guardian and BBC have already shown interest in the discovery - it was on the Scottish radio news this morning - so expect to hear more about it in the media.
X-ray picture of sword courtesy Pieta Greaves of AOC Archaeology, and sketch of grave courtesy Sarah Paris.
Also featured on BBC national radio (Today programme) this morning. Just wait until they discover the prehistoric alien boot prints too. It's going to be Kilchoan boom town!
ReplyDeleteI am up in Arisaig from Saturday. Might have to pop over and take a look. I cant imagine the tourist rush to be too big this time of year :)
ReplyDeleteHave heard quite a lot about it in the media today. There was an interview on Radio 4 PM programme with someone involved (apologies for not remembering their name). It's fantastic and really quite incredible.
ReplyDeleteit will always remind me of my daughters birthday, fantastic find fantastic daughter. AH
ReplyDeleteIt was today in the newspaper here in Flanders
ReplyDeleteIt was today in the newspaper here in Flanders
ReplyDelete@newhey - Ooh, I dont know. I passed three coach loads of archaeologists in full Viking regalia heading north this morning... Now that there's a connection, I'm thinking Up Helly Aa style Kilchoan mid-winter/Yule fest.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, congratulations to the Transitions team on their find(s). Hopefully the publicity from this will mean that they are able to keep coming back for many more years.
We visited the site this summer and were shown round by one of the tutors. I remember seeing the distinctive boat-shaped grave. How brilliant that it contained such important artefacts, it will really put West Ardnamurchan on the map - How long till Ferry Stores begin selling See U Jimmy Viking hats???
ReplyDeletemade the news on cnn in the states today
ReplyDeleteIf you could organise a big fire next week when I am up there, I would be really grateful, as would my kids :) Maybe you could also send Vodaphone an invite ;)
ReplyDeleteGot a mention in the 'Norway Post'.
ReplyDelete