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Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation Number 1155775 |
SWAAG Honorary President:
Tim Laurie F,S,A, |
| SWAAG News Archive | |
| News Archive | |
| Early Medieval Lindisfarne | |
| Dr David Petts, Associate Professor of Archaeology at Durham University, has been digging on Lindisfarne for many years. His talk began by outlining the early medieval history of the island, as well as describing how its geography would have been different from today’s. Most recent archaeological excavations, apart from those undertaken prior to building work, have occurred around outskirts of the present village. As well as finding stone buildings, walls, ditches and evidence of industrial activity, the excavations have frequently unearthed skeletons. Some were clearly secular burials, and the cemetery sites were frequently re-used, resulting in confusing juxtaposing of the skeletons. Isotopic and DNA analysis will throw more light on who these people were. A possible shrine tomb and an adjoining chest burial suggest high-status individuals were also buried on Lindisfarne. Twenty-three runic name stones have also been unearthed. Some of the more unusual artefacts recovered include a beautiful gaming piece and a bone comb with runes inscribed. Many animal bones, fish bones and shells have also been recovered providing evidence of the diets of the early medieval population. The discoveries – and particularly those of elaborate stone carvings – are beginning to challenge the long-held view that there was a mass exodus of the monks from Lindisfarne in the 10th century. The excavations will continue for another two summers. J.H. |
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| News Record: 182 Updated: 25-03-2024 09:51:47 | |