Dig Updates
Follow all the archaeology action from onsite at Lindisfarne as it happens.
An update on Trench 12!
Remember Trench 12?
If you don’t, you’re forgiven, as it’s been a little while since it was open!
Trench 12 was positioned on the north side of Lindisfarne’s village, away from our main excavation areas, and was opened in 2024 after early medieval human remains were uncovered during an otherwise routine water pipe replacement at the island’s coastguard hut.
These remains turned out to be part of a charnel pit, containing disarticulated and reburied bone fragments from multiple individuals.
But why are we telling you this? Stay tuned – all will become clear shortly…
And that's a wrap on our 10th and final year at Lindisfarne!
That’s a wrap on our 10th and final crowdfunded dig at Lindisfarne – and what an incredible decade of discovery it’s been!
From the long-lost ruins of the monastery famously raided by Vikings, to the people who lived, worked and worshipped here, our excavations have revealed a story far richer than anyone imagined.
This final season has been the key to it all: helping us to trace the monastery’s boundary ditch (vallum), uncover more burials and namestones, and find new evidence of crafts, walls and activity across the site. Each discovery brings us closer to understanding how life on Lindisfarne evolved – and what might have happened in the years that followed 793 AD.
To everyone who’s dug with us, supported from afar, and shared in the excitement along the way – THANK YOU!
The fieldwork may be over – but the story isn’t finished! Stay tuned to see how you can be part of Lindisfarne’s next chapter…
Trench 9 - our namestone hotspot, and the location of one very big wall...
Trench 2 - home to some of our most insightful burials and structures - including a boundary ditch, limekiln and drain
A fragment from a third stone
Another name carved in stone - and now captured in 3D!
Get up close (and all around) our namestones from this season at Lindisfarne!
Nailed it...?
The digging may be nearing its end, but the finds keep on coming – here’s Cathy with what looks to be some sort of nail!
How cool are these carvings?!
We’re proud to celebrate 10 years of Lindisfarne with something truly special – these incredible namestone carvings, hand-crafted by our very own Jonski, and modelled here by Brendon and David!
Our penultimate dig day!
We can’t believe how fast this season at Lindisfarne has flown, with tomorrow our last day of digging!
Here’s Harriet, Chris and Freddy standing in Trench 9’s very deep ditch!
Follow our progress
Follow the latest archaeology action from Lindisfarne as it happens.
