The Leirvik 'Bonhústoftin' and the Early Christianity of the Faroe Islands, and beyond.

Sheehan, John; Stummann Hansen, Steffen

The Leirvik 'Bonhústoftin' and the Early Christianity of the Faroe Islands, and beyond.

Files

Stummann_Hansen_&_Sheehan_2006.pdf(5.57 MB)

Published Version

Date

2006-01

Authors

Sheehan, John

Stummann Hansen, Steffen

Publisher

Archaeologia Islandica

Abstract

The best-preserved early church site on the Faroe Islands, locally known as Bønhústoftin (English: prayer-house ruin), is located in the settlement of Leirvík on the island of Eysturoy. Although the site is well known it has neither been the subject of a proper archaeological survey nor has it ever been included in discussions of the nature of early Christianity in the Faroe Islands. The site was recently surveyed and described by the authors, and the results of this work are presented here. Other sites of related type, both in the Faroe Islands and elsewhere, are identified and the archaeological and historical contexts within which these sites should be considered, including the evidence from Toftanes and Skúvoy, are discussed.

Keywords

Christianity , Faroe Islands , Chapel

Citation

Sheehan, J., and Stummann Hansen, S. (2006) 'The Leirvik 'Bonhústoftin' and the Early Christianity of the Faroe Islands, and beyond', Archaeologica Icelandica, 5(1), pp. 27-54.