A remarkable 900-year-old carved sandstone head has emerged from the ongoing archaeological excavation at Skaill Farm on the Scottish island of Rousay, marking one of the most significant medieval stone carvings discovered in Orkney in recent years. The unexpected find, uncovered by University of the Highlands and Islands student Katie Joss, represents a fascinating enigma that could reshape understanding of medieval architecture and artistry in the remote Scottish archipelago.
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The Discovery: A Find of a Lifetime
The carved head literally tumbled into Katie Joss's hands during the second week of the summer excavation season. "It was quite a shock," she recalled, quotes a BBC report.
"We were removing a slab when the head came rolling out at us and as we turned it around we saw a face looking back at us. It was really exciting."
The head emerged from the corner of a later dwelling house built between two substantial medieval buildings with meter-thick walls. These structures, including a square building and a two-story rectangular building with an external staircase, are believed to be part of the late medieval farm complex at Skaill. The rectangular building may have served as a large storehouse or administrative center, suggesting the site's importance in the regional power structure.
Artistic Mastery from Medieval Scotland
The carved head demonstrates exceptional medieval craftsmanship, fashioned from rich red sandstone with distinctive yellow inclusions that geological analysis suggests originated from the island of Eday. This material matches other moulded fragments found at the nearby ruins of St Mary's old parish church, indicating regional artistic continuity and shared quarrying sources during the medieval period.
Co-excavation director Dr. Sarah Jane Gibbon from the UHI Archaeology Institute expressed her amazement at the discovery's quality. "This is such an exciting find," she explained. "Over the years excavating at Skaill and The Wirk - the nearby hall tower - we have found several interesting moulded pieces of red sandstone but nothing like this!" The carving reveals sophisticated artistic techniques, with the head designed to be viewed frontally at a slight angle that showcases beautifully sculpted locks of hair cascading around the crown.
The facial features demonstrate remarkable character and personality, with closed eyes lacking pupils, asymmetric eyebrows, and a subtle, serene smile that conveys an almost meditative quality. Intriguingly, the nose has been broken off, raising questions about whether this damage resulted from accidental destruction or deliberate iconoclasm during periods of religious upheaval, remarks Arkeonews.
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Excavation of the rectangular medieval building at Skaill Farm. (University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute)
Cathedral Connections and Historical Context
Perhaps most intriguingly, Dr. Gibbon's research has revealed striking parallels between the Skaill head and medieval carvings in St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. The closest comparison in size and form appears in a window frame of the cathedral's south aisle, where a carved face has been inserted into the lower block. Even more remarkably, the cathedral head features a curl of hair on the left side while the Skaill head's curl appears on the right - creating what appears to be a mirror image.
This discovery gains additional significance when considering the historical context of the Skaill site. The excavation location sits directly atop what was once the Norse settlement of Sigurd of Westness, a powerful 12th-century Viking chieftain. "Sigurd was pals with Earl Rognvald, who built St Magnus cathedral in Kirkwall," explained Dan Lee, an archaeologist with the UHI Archaeology Institute. "We think we are standing on the hall that Sigurd built and lived in, which then became a late-medieval farmstead."
The name Skaill itself derives from the Old Norse word "skáli," meaning "hall," reinforcing the site's significance as a center of power during the medieval period. Adjacent to the farm excavation stand the remains of St Mary's chapel and a medieval tower called The Wirk, creating a complex of structures that suggest this was indeed "a real seat of power in that period."
Some other finds from the site. (University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute)
The Broader Archaeological Picture
The carved head represents just one element of a rich medieval landscape that continues to reveal its secrets through systematic excavation. Over the decade-long investigation at Skaill, archaeologists have uncovered numerous red sandstone fragments that collectively point toward the former existence of a building of considerable splendor in the vicinity. These architectural elements, combined with similar pieces incorporated into the nearby parish church, suggest that the area once hosted structures worthy of comparison with the great ecclesiastical and secular buildings of medieval Scotland.
The ongoing excavation has also yielded a diverse array of medieval artifacts, including decorated bone pieces and evidence of the site's evolution through multiple building phases. The rectangular building where the head was discovered shows evidence of sophisticated construction techniques, with foundations that extend beyond the current excavation boundaries, hinting at an even larger complex yet to be fully revealed.
Dr. Gibbon plans to continue her comparative research, particularly focusing on the potential connections between the Skaill carving and the artistic traditions evident in St Magnus Cathedral and other medieval Scottish monuments. This work may ultimately determine whether the carved head originally formed part of an ecclesiastical structure, possibly dating to the 12th century when cathedral construction was at its height in Orkney, or whether it represents secular aristocratic patronage of high-quality stone carving.
Top image: An intricately carved medieval sandstone head discovered during archaeological excavations at Skaill Farm on the island of Rousay, Orkney, representing one of the most significant medieval stone carvings found in the Scottish archipelago in recent years. Source: University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute)
By Gary Manners
References
Gibbon, S.J. 2025. Personal communication regarding Skaill excavation finds. Available at: https://archaeologyorkney.com/2025/07/24/skaill-wk2-2025/
Lee, D. 2025. Interview regarding historical context of Skaill site. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98j8rg1ejpo
Towrie, S. 2025. Dig diary – spectacular carved head found in week two at Skaill farm. Available at: https://archaeologyorkney.com/2025/07/24/skaill-wk2-2025/
University of the Highlands and Islands. 2025. Carved stone head from Skaill farm dig was an unexpected but spectacular find. Available at: https://www.orkney.uhi.ac.uk/news/carved-stone-head-from-skaill-farm-dig-was-an-unexpected-but-spectacular-find.html
