Archaeologists have found a rare runestone during excavations at the Á Sondum archaeological site on Sandoy in the Faroe Islands. The stone lay within the floor of a medieval building uncovered during this summer’s work.
Runestone. Credit: Helgi Michelsen
Runic stones are rare in the Faroe Islands, so the find adds an important piece to the site’s story. Archaeologists from the National Museum of the Faroe Islands have already identified some of the runes. A runic scholar is due to visit the islands in late August for a closer study. The specialist will work to read more of the inscription and learn what the stone says.
The stone is fragile after spending centuries buried in wet ground. Museum staff have therefore moved it from the excavation area to the National Museum. Conservation work will help protect the stone before researchers carry out further study.
The runestone is one of several finds from Sondum this summer. Archaeologists also recovered pieces of a small statue showing the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus. Another find was a small lamp used for burning oil or animal fat.
Statue of Mary and the infant Jesus. Credit: Helgi Michelsen
Together, these objects point toward Christian activity at the site. The team thinks the excavated building might have served as a medieval prayer house or chapel. Its layout supports the idea.
The building runs from east to west and has an entrance at the western end. Such a layout appears in other medieval prayer houses and chapels in the Faroe Islands. Examples include the prayer house at Bønhúsbergi in Mykines, Bønhústoft in Leirvík, and the remains at Niðri á Bakka in Velbastaður.
The excavation area at Sondum. Credit: Helgi Michelsen
The runestone adds another clue to the role of the building. Its position within the floor also raises questions about how people used the space over time. The stone might have been placed there during a later change to the building, or reused from an earlier setting. Its original purpose will depend on the inscription and further study. Researchers will also examine the stone itself for marks, wear, and other signs of past use.
Researchers still need to read the inscription before they know whether the text names a person, records an event, marks a place, or carries a religious message. Even a short reading could help place the stone within the history of the site.
The Sondum excavation is led by the National Museum of the Faroe Islands in partnership with Aarhus University and Moesgaard Museum. Archaeology students from Aarhus University have joined the fieldwork this summer and last summer as part of their university training and fieldwork.
The excavation will continue until late August. Local residents and other visitors are welcome to watch the work when conditions allow. Archaeologists also explain the finds at the site, but visitors are asked to stay outside the excavation area. The exposed remains are fragile and easy to damage.
The work at Sondum is helping researchers build a clearer picture of life in medieval Sandoy. The building, Christian objects, and rare runestone together point toward a site with a religious role. The full reading of the inscription should add another piece to the evidence from the excavation.
More information: Department of Archaeology