Glen to Glen

The 14 Most Amazing Archeological Finds in Scotland

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  1. Viking Drinking Hall (2019): A Norse building believed to be a Viking drinking hall was excavated at Skail Farmstead on Rousay, Orkney.
  2. Lost Govan Stones (2019): A 14-year-old schoolboy discovered one of Govan’s medieval gravestones from the Govan Old Parish Church graveyard, indicating the presence of an ancient kingdom.
  3. Carved Pictish Stone (2019): A previously unknown Pictish stone was found in Dingwall, decorated with mythical beasts and an animal-headed warrior.
  4. 1,400-Year-Old Pictish Skeleton (2019): This skeleton was discovered at a Pictish cemetery in Muir of Ord, offering insights into ancient burial practices.
  5. The Lewis Chessmen (1831): Chess pieces carved from walrus ivory and whale teeth were found on the Isle of Lewis, reflecting Norse influences from the late 12th and early 13th centuries.
  6. The Loch Village (2013): Archaeologists discovered Scotland’s only known Iron Age loch village in Wigtownshire, revising the historical timeline of habitation in the area.
  7. Pictish Stones (2013): These stones, discovered at an undisclosed location, feature carvings that represent a lost language from the Iron Age attributed to the Picts.
  8. The Islay Artifacts: Unearthed by pigs on the Isle of Islay, these 12,000-year-old artifacts pushed back the timeline for human habitation on the island.
  9. World’s Oldest Calendar (2013): The lunar calendar at Warren Field, believed to be the oldest known time-measuring structure, was discovered during a survey project.
  10. St. Ninian’s Treasure (1958): A schoolboy named Douglas Coutts found a trove of silver objects on St. Ninian’s Isle, Shetland, dating to around AD 750–825.
  11. The Ballachulish Figure (1880): Discovered by builders near Loch Leven, this wooden figure is over 2,500 years old and may represent a fertility or protection goddess.
  12. The Boethius Manuscript (2015): Dr. Kylie Murray from Oxford University re-identified a 12th-century manuscript as being of Scottish origin while researching at the University of Glasgow.
  13. Skara Brae (1850): A storm revealed a Neolithic village on Orkney Island, providing a well-preserved look at stone-built homes and furniture from 5,000 years ago.
  14. The Ness Of Brodgar (excavations ongoing as of 2015): An ancient complex on Orkney, featuring impressive Neolithic structures and art, highlights a sophisticated society from around 3200 BC.