Archaeologists excavating a possible medieval chapel in the Faroe Islands have discovered a rare runestone lying in the floor of the building. A preliminary reading suggests that part of its inscription may say “Here lies” or “Here rests,” although specialists have yet to examine the stone fully.
The discovery was made at the Á Sondum archaeological site in Sandur, a village on the island of Sandoy in the southern Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing North Atlantic archipelago within the Kingdom of Denmark, situated roughly halfway between Scotland and Iceland.
Staff from Tjóðsavnið, the National Museum of the Faroe Islands, found the stone during excavations conducted in July. It had been incorporated into the floor of a building uncovered during this summer’s work.
National Museum archaeologist Helgi Michelsen offered a highly tentative reading of part of the inscription: “Her hvílur…” The phrase can be translated as “Here lies…” or “Here rests…” The reading could indicate that the stone carried a memorial or funerary inscription, but its meaning cannot be established until specialists have studied the runes more closely.
Now that the stone has been removed from the soil, it is considered particularly vulnerable. It will therefore be transferred from the excavation to the National Museum for protection and further study.
Evidence of a medieval religious building
The excavation site at Sondum. Photo: Helgi Michelsen.
The runestone is one of several finds suggesting that the excavated building may have served a Christian religious purpose. Archaeologists have also recovered fragments of a small statue depicting the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, as well as a kola, a small lamp that burned fat or oil.
The building is aligned from east to west and has an entrance at its western end. Both features are commonly found in medieval chapels and small religious buildings. Archaeologists currently believe that the structure could be a medieval oratory, although that interpretation remains provisional.
The museum points to several comparable sites in the Faroe Islands, including the oratory at Bønhúsberg on the island of Mykines, Bønhústoft in Leirvík on Eysturoy, and a ruined structure at Bakki in Velbastaður on Streymoy.
The newly discovered objects may provide important evidence for religious life in medieval Sandoy. The possible reference to someone resting or lying at the site could also be significant, but it is not yet clear whether the runestone originally marked a burial, was connected to the building in another way, or was reused as part of its floor.
Excavations continuing at Á Sondum
Statue of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. Photo: Helgi Michelsen.
Á Sondum is an important archaeological site for understanding the long history of settlement in the Faroe Islands. Previous research there has uncovered evidence of occupation extending from before the Viking Age through the medieval period and into more recent centuries.
The National Museum will continue excavating the site until the end of August. The project is being carried out in collaboration with Aarhus University and Moesgaard Museum in Denmark. Archaeology students from Aarhus University participated in the excavations this summer and last summer as part of their training, with Smyril Line supporting their travel.
Residents and other interested visitors may observe the excavation while work is underway. The museum has asked visitors not to enter the excavation area itself, as the exposed archaeological remains are fragile and can easily be damaged.
Top Image: Runestone discovered in the Faroe Islands. Photo: Helgi Michelsen
Archaeologists excavating a possible medieval chapel in the Faroe Islands have discovered a rare runestone lying in the floor of the building. A preliminary reading suggests that part of its inscription may say “Here lies” or “Here rests,” although specialists have yet to examine the stone fully.
The discovery was made at the Á Sondum archaeological site in Sandur, a village on the island of Sandoy in the southern Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing North Atlantic archipelago within the Kingdom of Denmark, situated roughly halfway between Scotland and Iceland.
Staff from Tjóðsavnið, the National Museum of the Faroe Islands, found the stone during excavations conducted in July. It had been incorporated into the floor of a building uncovered during this summer’s work.
National Museum archaeologist Helgi Michelsen offered a highly tentative reading of part of the inscription: “Her hvílur…” The phrase can be translated as “Here lies…” or “Here rests…” The reading could indicate that the stone carried a memorial or funerary inscription, but its meaning cannot be established until specialists have studied the runes more closely.
Now that the stone has been removed from the soil, it is considered particularly vulnerable. It will therefore be transferred from the excavation to the National Museum for protection and further study.
Evidence of a medieval religious building
The runestone is one of several finds suggesting that the excavated building may have served a Christian religious purpose. Archaeologists have also recovered fragments of a small statue depicting the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, as well as a kola, a small lamp that burned fat or oil.
The building is aligned from east to west and has an entrance at its western end. Both features are commonly found in medieval chapels and small religious buildings. Archaeologists currently believe that the structure could be a medieval oratory, although that interpretation remains provisional.
The museum points to several comparable sites in the Faroe Islands, including the oratory at Bønhúsberg on the island of Mykines, Bønhústoft in Leirvík on Eysturoy, and a ruined structure at Bakki in Velbastaður on Streymoy.
The newly discovered objects may provide important evidence for religious life in medieval Sandoy. The possible reference to someone resting or lying at the site could also be significant, but it is not yet clear whether the runestone originally marked a burial, was connected to the building in another way, or was reused as part of its floor.
Excavations continuing at Á Sondum
Á Sondum is an important archaeological site for understanding the long history of settlement in the Faroe Islands. Previous research there has uncovered evidence of occupation extending from before the Viking Age through the medieval period and into more recent centuries.
The National Museum will continue excavating the site until the end of August. The project is being carried out in collaboration with Aarhus University and Moesgaard Museum in Denmark. Archaeology students from Aarhus University participated in the excavations this summer and last summer as part of their training, with Smyril Line supporting their travel.
Residents and other interested visitors may observe the excavation while work is underway. The museum has asked visitors not to enter the excavation area itself, as the exposed archaeological remains are fragile and can easily be damaged.
Top Image: Runestone discovered in the Faroe Islands. Photo: Helgi Michelsen
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