The monastery in Aberdeenshire is thought to be where the ancient Book of Deer was first scribed.
PA Media
Archaeologists have discovered the site of a 10th-century monastery linked to the first written record of the Scottish Gaelic language.
The monastery in Aberdeenshire is thought to be where the ancient Book of Deer was first scribed.
A number of monks in Aberdeenshire added Gaelic notes to the manuscript as late as the 12th century, which became the earliest surviving written record of the language.
The site of the “missing” monastery was found under a field next to Deer Abbey in Buchan, which dates to the 13th century.
A new BBC Alba documentary called The Missing Monastery, due to be broadcast on Monday, details how a team of archaeologists found artefacts which pre-dated the abbey and they eventually uncovered rubble thought to be from the monastery.
Gaelic-speaking archaeology graduate Mairead Morgan said: “At the beginning of the 12th century, the earliest evidence of Scottish Gaelic was written in the margins of this Latin gospel book by the monks in a monastery in Aberdeenshire, a region which is not widely regarded as a Gaelic-speaking region today.
“However, not only does this show that Gaelic was spoken in the region, but it is also the earliest evidence that exists of written Scottish Gaelic by a good 200 to 300 years, which easily makes the Book of Deer one of the most important manuscripts in Scotland.”
Lead archaeologist Ali Cameron said: “A lot of the rest of the field had been disturbed but we opened such large trenches in 2022 so that we had the best chance of finding early medieval features.
“We spent weeks excavating later material including stone and other demolition material until we got down to the earliest layers and features two weeks before the end of the dig.
“I then led a team of students and volunteers and we systematically cut sections though all the features, collected finds and samples which are important as they are where the charcoal for dating will be.
“We then waited a few months for the samples to be carefully processed in the University of Aberdeen under the supervision of Dr Gordon Noble and then we had our charcoal.”
She said it took three months to get the results from the laboratory, adding: “When I opened the email I was stunned and had to re-read them several times before I realised what they were telling me”.
18th November 2023
By Katy Prickett
Andrew Williams/Norfolk County Council
A medieval seal matrix discovered by a metal detectorist is "a window into someone's spiritual world just before the Black Death", an expert has said.
The "completely unique" gilded silver object, found in a field north of Norwich, probably belonged to a monk.
Its inscription "I beseech thee, holy sun of righteousness, be the way" has not been found on any other object, according to historian Helen Geake.
"It's a really sophisticated object with a really good design," she said.
Dr Geake, Norfolk's find liaison officer, said: "It's completely unique, we don't have anything to compare with this inscription.
"The 'sun of righteousness', appears in the Old Testament, towards the end of a set of prophecies, and became a relatively common way of referring to Jesus Christ in the Middle Ages."
The medieval Latin inscription reads TE: ROGO: IVSTICIE: SOL: PIVS: ESTO: VIE / AVE MA
Its detailed design includes a crowned Virgin Mary holding the Christ child and kneeling to her right is a monk looking up at her, identified by his tonsure.
He would have attached the matrix to a handle and used it to stamp an impression on wax to authenticate documents.
Dr Geake said another "unusual" aspect of the find is that it appears to be designed for "a detachable handle, with the matrix rotating either to lock it in position, or to remove it, as if interchangeable die could be used with the same handle".
The die is the part of the matrix which stamps wax.
She believes it must have been owned by a monk and he would have exchanged the die with others, one of which was personal and another to reflect his official role in the monastery.
"It's unique in two different ways - it's interchangeable and it has this little, private prayer," Dr Geake said.
"It's a window into someone's personal, emotional or spiritual world in the years before the Black Death."
The pandemic swept through Europe between 1347 and 1351, with a huge loss of life.
The find is the subject of a coroner's inquest.
Rare Bronze Age find to go on show in Cumberland museum
A Bronze Age gold arm ring of regional significance and national interest will soon go on show at The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven.
The artefact was discovered in 2019 in West Cumbria by a local detectorist and has been jointly acquired by The Beacon Museum and Tullie and purchased with support from Art Fund, Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Cumberland Council and the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society.
Although similar items have been found in other parts of the UK, this object is a first for West Cumbria and is thought to originate from 900 - 700 BC.
The acquisition of this stunning artefact is testament to the success of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Treasure process which has allowed this rare object the opportunity to be acquired by our local museums for public benefit.
Between Saturday 18 November and June 2024, the item will take centre place within The Beacon Museum’s Prehistoric and Bronze Age section located at the entrance to the museum’s third floor gallery ‘History of Copeland’.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:
“As a new council, we are already seeing the advantages of working together to support culture in Cumberland. The Beacon Museum and Tullie have worked in partnership to ensure this significant find, found in our area, stays here, and will go on show, on a rotational basis, in two of our museums.
“The Cumberland area is lucky to have a wide range of arts and cultural attractions.
“This joint acquisition provides more opportunities for our communities to see this amazing find and discover more about their local heritage.”
The Beacon Museum’s Customer and Visitor Experience Manager, Heather Holmes added:
“The find will significantly enhance The Beacon Museum’s prehistoric and Bronze Age story of our area. The nature of the item, and its role as a showpiece object, will highlight the importance of the museum as a venue for sharing heritage with both the local community and wider tourist market.
“It will support the museum’s existing prehistoric and bronze age collections as it will be the first item made of metal from the period to enter the collection. It’s a must-see exhibit.”
The exhibit will also be showcased at Tullie, Carlisle from July 2024.The item will then be on show on a rotational basis between the two museums.
Tulle’s Head of Collections and Engagement, Anna Smalley said:
“Since the Portable Antiquities Scheme began recording archaeological finds in 1997, only eight other gold objects from the Bronze Age have been recorded in Cumbria. The majority of Bronze Age material recorded originates in the south of Cumbria, making this Northern example really exciting for the local region.”
Tullie holds a number of objects linked to this theme, from Bronze Age gold to rock art and Neolithic tridents which all hint towards a strong trading and migration network between England and Ireland through Cumbria across the Stone Ages and Bronze Age.
The acquisition of this stunning artefact was made possible thanks to support from Art Fund, Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Cumberland Council and the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society.
Prof Michael Lewis, Head of Portable Antiquities & Treasure, British Museum, said:
“It is wonderful news that The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven, has been able to acquire this important Late Bronze Age gold arm ring for local people to see and enjoy. The British Museum is proud of its role in managing the Portable Antiquities Scheme in England, through which this object was reported Treasure via the local Finds Liaison Officer.”
Leanne Manfredi, Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund said:
“The Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund supports the purchase of a wide range of material for the permanent collections of non-nationally funded organisations in England and Wales. We are delighted that this Bronze Age gold arm ring of ‘regional significance and of national interest’ has been jointly acquired by The Beacon Museum and Tullie via the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme. It will benefit audiences for years to come.”
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