Community-funded archaeological excavations on the tiny Scottish island of Lismore have uncovered a major sixth-century monastery, reshaping understanding of the early spread of Christianity in Britain.
Islanders uncover extensive monastic remains
Lismore, near Oban in Argyll, has a population of 190 and no shops or pub; the only meeting place is the Gaelic heritage centre. Documentary evidence records a monastic settlement there in the sixth century AD, when missionaries from Ireland were moving into northern Britain. Apart from fragments of an early carved cross, little was visible from that period.
Members of the island's historical society raised funds through grants, donations, legacies and a crowdfunding campaign. They commissioned professional archaeologist Dr Clare Ellis of Argyll Archaeology to lead excavations at the site of a much later medieval cathedral, with islanders and volunteers taking part.
Finds comparable to Iona
The excavations revealed extensive burial grounds, decorated stonework and early buildings — features of a major monastery comparable to the better-known site of Iona. Rare evidence of high-status craftworking included large numbers of crucibles used to cast gold and silver. Experts say the monastery of Lios Mór, founded by Saint Mo Luóc or Moluag, was a high-ranking site of international importance.
Robert Hay, a retired plant scientist who moved to the island in 2001 and coordinated fundraising and volunteers, called the experience thrilling. "We were [excavating] in this really unfavourable, boggy area. To be digging out the best small crucibles ever found in Scotland – it's extraordinary," he said. "The most exciting moment for me was when they were doing the post-excavation analysis and they found that they had been melting gold, copper, silver, and they were making jewellery on our little island in the seventh century."
Significance for early Christian history
Gordon Noble, professor of archaeology at the University of Aberdeen, said the finds were highly significant. "We know about sites like Iona having these very famous monastic sites from this early medieval world. But apart from the association with Moluag and a piece of sculpture from this site, we knew practically nothing really about Lismore. So it was hugely exciting to see the results emerging through the local group's work with Clare [Ellis] … This was clearly a really important early Christian establishment."
Noble noted that while professional archaeologists often work with local people, "it's not always the community themselves coming up with the ideas. Here, it was very much a bottom-up approach of the heritage society coming up with a plan, working with professionals – and lo and behold, what a great series of discoveries they've made at the site."
Restoring Moluag's reputation
Hay said he hoped the finds would restore the reputation of Moluag, long overshadowed by Saint Columba, founder of Iona. "Unfortunately, Moluag never had a hagiographer, so his contribution to the evangelisation of Scotland has been very much underestimated," he said. "So finding his monastic site and [the evidence of metalworking] – it's all about recalibrating the situation. I think Moluag had a very big impact on the evangelising of Scotland, but unfortunately, he didn't get his PR right."
The results of the community excavations will be published in the forthcoming edition of Antiquity.
