Students Uncover Remains of 1,000-Year-Old Church on Scottish Island

Students from Gordonstoun, a boarding school in Scotland attended by members of the British royal family, have uncovered evidence confirming the existence of a 1,000-year-old Viking-era church. The discovery was made during an annual service project on the remote island of Swona in Orkney.

The students unearthed the foundations of an altar and a step within the known ruins of the island's structure, which had long been referred to locally as a "kirk," or church. While the ruins were visible, their exact historical purpose remained uncertain until this excavation.

Gordonstoun’s Swona Service Project involves students participating in archaeological and restoration work on the island. Housemaster Daniel McLean, who organizes the project, noted that the structure’s characteristics, including its size, proportions, east-west orientation, door placement, and construction methods, were consistent with early medieval church architecture. He stated that upon returning for excavation, the team targeted the inside of the east wall, anticipating the location of an altar.

Their efforts quickly revealed the altar foundations and a preceding step. The church is believed to date to the 10th or 11th century, aligning with other known Viking-era churches in the region. A student involved in the excavation, Archie Maclean, described the experience of seeing the remains as profound, noting that the altar and doorway structures were remarkably well-preserved despite centuries of erosion.

Another student, Alfie Pullin, participated in restoration work on a house on the island, replacing its rotted wooden floor. The students' week-long stay on the isolated island, which lacks electricity and relies on a 1,000-year-old well for fresh water, was described as a surreal yet rewarding experience.

Gordonstoun collaborates with the island’s owners, the Annal family, and the Swona Heritage Group for the project. The school plans to return next year for further investigation and aims to create a 3D model of the church using collected data and images. Archaeologists hope that continued analysis will further pinpoint the church's age and provide insights into historical communities and the spread of Christianity.