Gordonstoun Students Uncover 1,000-Year-Old Viking Church on Swona, Confirming Long-Held Local Legend
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 18
Gordonstoun Students Uncover 1,000-Year-Old Viking Church on Swona, Confirming Long-Held Local Legend
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 18
Summary
Altar foundations and a step found inside the Swona ruins have convinced Gordonstoun students and project leaders they uncovered a 10th- or 11th-century Viking-era church.
The evidence came after a prior survey flagged early medieval church features, including the building’s east-west orientation, proportions, doorway position and construction methods.
Ten students reached the deserted Orkney island after a roughly 10-hour trip and combined excavation with restoration work, staying in a house without electricity and drawing water from a 1,000-year-old well.
Next year’s return will extend the investigation with GPS data and digital images used to build a 3D model, while further analysis aims to narrow the church’s age and illuminate how Christianity spread in remote communities.