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Curious mystery of medieval stone head

Discovered on the island of Rousay, a strange carved sandstone head is revealing previously unknown secrets about ancient life and beliefs.

Báo Khoa học và Đời sốngBáo Khoa học và Đời sống04/08/2025

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A sandstone head dating back around 900 years has been discovered by experts at Skaill Farm on the Scottish island of Rousay. It is one of the most important medieval stone carvings discovered in Orkney in recent years. Photo: University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute.
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The discovery of this giant stone head provides evidence that helps decipher information about the architecture, art and life of medieval people on the remote Scottish islands. Photo: UHI Archaeology Institute.
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The stone head juts out from the corner of a house built between two massive medieval buildings with meter-thick walls. The structures, a square building and a two-story rectangular building with an external staircase, are believed to have been part of a late medieval farm complex at Skaill. Photo: UHI Archaeology Institute.
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The rectangular building may have been a large storage facility or administrative center, indicating the site's importance in the regional power structure. Photo: UHI Archaeology Institute.
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The head is carved from dark red sandstone with distinctive yellow inclusions, according to experts. Geological analysis has shown it originated from the island of Eday. The stone matches other artifacts found at the ruins of the old parish church of St Mary nearby, suggesting a continuity of art in the area and a common quarrying source during the Middle Ages. Photo: UHI Archaeology Institute.
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Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon, co-director of the UHI Archaeology Institute excavation, said it was an exciting discovery . The head is a testament to the skill of medieval sculptors. The head is carved so that when viewed from the front it is tilted slightly, revealing beautifully sculpted locks of hair that hang down around the head. Photo: UHI Archaeology Institute.
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The facial features are expressive, with closed eyes, asymmetrical eyebrows, and a serene, gentle smile that exudes a contemplative air. Notably, the nose is broken, raising questions about whether it was accidental destruction or deliberate vandalism during a period of religious upheaval. Photo: UHI Archaeology Institute.
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Dr Gibbon added that the head found at Skaill has similarities to medieval carvings at St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. These discoveries suggest a connection between the sites, confirming the site’s importance as a centre of medieval power. Photo: UHI Archaeology Institute.
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The medieval stone head may have been part of a religious building such as a church dating to the 12th century. The structure may have represented aristocratic patronage of high-quality stone carving. Photo: UHI Archaeology Institute.
Readers are invited to watch the video : Revealing lost civilizations through archaeological remains.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/bi-an-to-mo-ve-dau-da-thoi-trung-co-post2149042571.html


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