Medieval village rediscovered

Professor John Hunter and a team of 15 have discovered what is believed to be a buried medieval crofting settlement while carrying out general field survey work in and around a harbour village in the Western Isles.

Artefacts buried under the clachan of Rodel, on south Harris, may provide evidence that the community was once an international trading centre, with vessels arriving from Scandinavia and also the Mediterranean. . .

Up to 30 houses are understood to be buried on a croft next to St Clement's Church, recognised as one of the grandest examples of medieval buildings anywhere on the Western Isles. Professor Hunter and his team, from the University of Birmingham, used geophysical technology to scan the ground and provide a "footprint" of the hidden village.

Posted by David on November 23, 2004 5:57 PM