Archaeologists found a Viking 'drinking hall' on an island off the coast of Scotland

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(CNN) — Hark! Bring your finest ale and celebrate!

A large Norse "drinking hall" was discovered on an island of Scotland, archaeologists say , and is believed to have been used by a viking chieftain named Earl Sigurd way back in the 12th century.

The discovery was made by a team of students and island residents of the University of the Highlands and Islands Archeology Institute last week who were digging at at Skaill Farmstead in Westness, Rousay.

Skaill Norse Hall showing the northern outer wall. Photo: UHI Archaeology Institute UHI Archaeology Institute

Dating back to the tenth century, the massive structure is held up by 3.3 feet-wide stone walls panning about 18 ft apart, with stone benches running along each side.

Totaling to an expansive 42.6-foot passage, the structure's discovery also came with a soap stone from Shetland, pottery, and a fragment of a Norse bone comb.

"We have recovered a millennia of middens which will allow us an unparalleled opportunity to look at changing dietary traditions, farming and fishing practices from the Norse period up until the 19th Century," project co-director Dr Ingrid Mainland said.

Skaill Norse Hall below present farmstead. Photo: UHI Archaeology Institute UHI Archaeology Institute

Westness is mentioned in the Orkneyinga Saga, a historical narrative of the region, as a home of the viking chieftain.

Dan Lee, co-director of the excavation project, said "The exciting news this season is that we have now found the hall at Skaill, as the place name suggests."

According to the UHI Archaeology Institute, the name "Skaill" suggests the site was once a popular Norse drinking hall, and location for high status community members to gather and kick back.

flawless_flaw on August 8th, 2019 at 15:34 UTC »

Imagine being a brave Nord on a ship, boarding a Breton trading vessel. As you bravely charge into battle and cut down your enemies without mercy, a coward stabs you from behind, you lose your balance and fall into the sea. When you wake up, you are washed up in an unknown shore. There's a hall nearby from which great commotion can be heard and bright lights are coming through the window. You stumble towards it and open the door, the light blinding you until your eyes adjust and you see a great Nordic feast with plenty of meat and mead and the one-eyed leader welcoming you in. You grab a seat among the honored heroes, and after you satisfy your feast, you exclaim: "I made it to Valhalla", to which the chief replies: "Actually we're in Orkney".

PS: At least you didn't wake up in a cart handbound and the first thing you hear is "Finally, you're awake".

Edit: Thanks for gold!

Anathos117 on August 8th, 2019 at 14:28 UTC »

And by "an island off the coast of Scotland" they mean "one of the Orkney islands, which are famous for their Viking settlements".

The Orkney based Highland Park distillery has been aggressively rebranding to Viking themes the last few years.

Crede777 on August 8th, 2019 at 14:07 UTC »

The Vikings just called them "halls."