Excavation of medieval graves at St Thomas' Kirk, Hall of Rendall, Orkney

In early 2005 a particularly severe storm exposed human bones on the foreshore
immediately east of the ruins of St Thomas’ Kirk. The subsequent excavation recovered
14 individual inhumations. The skeletons exhibited a relatively high number of
pathological conditions and evidence of a diet that included fish, meat and dairy
products. Isotopic analysis confirms that one of the individuals was from either the Outer
Hebrides or Northern Shetland while the rest originated from Orkney. The graves were
arranged in distinct grave plots on a north/south aligned row, clustered particularly
close to the east side of St Thomas’ Kirk. Imported medieval pottery, of a type unknown
in Orkney or indeed Scotland, was recovered from the graves.