Archaeologists in the Faroe Islands report the discovery of an ancient runestone, uncovered in the floor of a structure being excavated by archaeologists at Sondum on Sandoy.
The find, according to staff from the National Museum of the Faroe Islands, was discovered as part of this summer’s excavations at the location and was uncovered lying on the floor of an ancient structure.
The discovery is rare, since runestones of this type are not a frequent discovery in the Faroe Islands. Some of the runes are discernible, according to researchers with the country’s National Museum, although later this month an expert in such ancient writings will travel to the site to assist in that process.
Ancient Messages in Stone
Runestones are generally raised stones or boulders featuring inscriptions composed in ancient runic alphabets. Most of these unique monumental artifacts were created during Scandinavia’s Viking Age, although a few from later periods have also occasionally been discovered, since the tradition extended from around the 4th until the 12th century.
Runestones served a variety of functions, which included inscriptions as memorials to the dead and records of historic journeys. In some cases, these monumental stones also served as status symbols by wealthy families, or as markers of land or other assets they owned.
Although these ancient markers are believed to have been decorated with bright colors at the time of their creation, today the objects appear bare, with the paint that once adorned them having worn away after many centuries.
A Fragile Ancient Discovery
The ancient runestone discovered at Sondum is currently at risk of damage following its discovery, since in its current state, the stone and its inscriptions are extremely fragile. To ensure that it is not endangered, the rare discovery has been relocated to a storage and preservation site at the National Museum.
Archaeologists also report the discovery of fragments of a small statue depicting the Virgin Mary and a newborn Jesus at the site, along with other artifacts that could point to the site’s use as an early Christian chapel or prayer house from the early Middle Ages, although additional confirmation is still required.
Uncommon Features
Along with the artifacts uncovered at the ancient site, archaeologists have noted several unique features at the site, which include the building’s east-west orientation, with its entrance facing west.
This could provide a clue about the structure’s purpose, since medieval prayer houses and chapels from this period often incorporate such archaeological features, and others similar to it have been discovered in the Faroe Islands in the past at locations like Bønhúsbergi on Mykines, as well as a group of ruins that stand at Niðri á Bakka in Velbastaður.
Open to the Public, but Caution is Advised
Officials with the National Museum have invited interested members of the public to visit the excavation site where the runestone and other artifacts have been unearthed, where archaeologists on site are actively working to provide insights into the findings.
Of course, any visitors have been asked to keep a safe distance from any archaeological remains at the Sondum site, since, like the runestone now preserved at the National Museum, many of the artifacts and other features at the site are very fragile and can be easily damaged.
In advance of deeper investigations into the nature and meaning of the runestone uncovered at the suspected chapel, museum officials have said that archaeologists will be assisted further into the summer dig season by collaborators at Aarhus University and the Moesgaard Museum, where Aarhus archaeology students will continue assisting with excavations.
Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. A longtime reporter on science, defense, and technology with a focus on space and astronomy, he can be reached at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow him on X @MicahHanks, and at micahhanks.com.