Community-led archaeology has uncovered the remains of an early medieval monastery in Argyll, western Scotland, concluding it was the high-ranking ecclesiastical centre of Lios Mòr, previously only known from historical references and local traditions.
The Christian Church was instrumental in the development of north-western Europe during the early medieval period (c. AD 400-1000), shaping religious and intellectual life as well as the polities that took power in the wake of the Roman Empire.
This was also true in Scotland, where churches such as Iona, famously one of the oldest Christian religious centres in Western Europe, led a surge in monasticism in the Gaelic-speaking kingdom of Dál Riata that encompassed Argyll, most of the Hebrides and even part of County Antrim in Northern Ireland.
One such church was the monastery of Lios Mòr (Lismore) on the island of Lismore in Argyll.
“Lismore, founded by Saint Mo Luóc in the sixth century, was known from historical records, place-name evidence, and local tradition, but there was very little archaeological evidence to confirm its character, extent, or significance,” says Dr Clare Ellis of Argyll Archaeology, who led the excavations.
This changed when the Lismore Historical Society launched an investigation of the island’s 13th century cathedral.
“The research aimed to determine whether the site of the later medieval cathedral at Lismore was also the location of Mo Luóc’s early monastery, and to assess the scale, nature, and status of the settlement.”, Clare states.
Excavation and geophysical survey uncovered extensive burial grounds, high-status craftworking areas, early buildings, and rare evidence for precious-metal working, demonstrating that Lismore was far more than a small island church.
These finds point to the conclusion that the island was the site of an early medieval monastery of considerable wealth and influence.
“For centuries, Lismore’s early monastery was known mainly from written records and local tradition. We can now see that it was a thriving centre of worship, craftsmanship and learning, whose importance may have rivalled some of the best-known monasteries in early medieval Britain”, explains co-author of the research, Professor Gordon Noble from the University of Aberdeen.
It is clear that Lismore was host to a thriving monastic community comparable to some of the most important monastic sites in Britain and Ireland, greatly adding to our understanding of early medieval Christian centres and highlighting the importance of archaeologists and local communities working together to study our shared heritage.
"The discoveries at Lismore demonstrate the value of community-led archaeology in advancing academic research”, concludes Bob Hay, a former island resident who organised the funding and volunteers. “Local volunteers and the Lismore Historical Society played a central role in investigating the site, helping to uncover evidence that has fundamentally changed understanding of one of Scotland’s most important early Christian centres."