Evidence points to Lindisfarne’s earliest monastery
Archaeologists from Durham University and the crowd-funded archaeology platform DigVentures have found what they believe to be evidence of the earliest monastery on Lindisfarne. During an archaeological dig on the Holy Island in June a rare Anglo Saxon grave marker was found. Ancient name stone The small, round-headed sandstone marker, commonly known as a name stone, has been dated to the mid-7th to 8th Century AD, well within the period of Lindisfarne's first monastery. The face of the stone is carved and the letters 'frith' are still visible. Experts are still studying the find but believe the letters form the end of the name of the monk commemorated on the stone. 'Frith' was a common element of Anglo Saxon names. Although the stone was not found marking a grave, fragments of human bone have been found nearby suggesting that there is a cemetery in close proximity.
