Video: Viking-era gems found in Velbastaður

The National Museum of the Faroe Islands has since 2014 been conducting archaeological research in an old churchyard in Velbastaður.

Among the items recently unearthed on the site are a gilded silver ring from the 8th-10th century.

This find reinforces previous evidence which suggests that Christianity may have come to the Faroe Islands well before what is documented in Faroese history books. 

This summer, a woven gold thread was dug up between two rocks at the entrance of what was once a chapel. Such gold threads have never been found in the Faroes before.

Other recent finds include a rare Carnelian pearl, an amber bead and an Anglo-Saxon coin, all likely dating back to the Viking era.

The excavation work in Velbastaður will continue next summer.

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

More Faroese News in English.