Archaeology InSites
Age of Worship
The age of Worship explores Christian architecture and Viking practices: from long cist cemeteries to boat burials, we explore rural island monastic settlements through to a 12th century Parish church still in use to this day.
Scar Viking boat burial - Sanday, Orkney
When a farmer noticed some bones protruding from the sands at Skaill Bay, Sanday, Orkney, in 1985, he had no idea that he had found one of Scotland's rarest burial types. He had discovered a Viking boat burial which included not one, not two, but three individuals.
Newfarm Long Cist Cemetery – Dalkeith, Midlothian
During the 19th century agricultural workers chanced upon stone slabs and human remains whilst digging in a sandpit. It was not until 1996 that an excavation revealed the full extent of this early medieval long cist cemetery and offered up some intriguing discoveries in the process.
