900-year-old nameless castle unearthed on Scottish island Islay
Archaeologists uncover remnants of a medieval fortress on Finlaggan, linked to the Lords of the Isles, offering new insight into a little-known realm of western Scotland.
Archaeologists on the Isle of Islay, Scotland, have uncovered the remains of a nearly 900-year-old castle that appears to have stood on two small islands in Loch Finlaggan. The discovery is tied to the Lords of the Isles, a power bloc that ruled parts of western Scotland from the 12th to the 15th centuries.
Finlaggan has long been recognized as the center of that lordship. The Lords of the Isles were MacDonald clan chiefs who saw themselves as rulers in their own right, sometimes likened to kings, and they controlled the Hebrides, Argyll and portions of the northwest Highlands. Records about them are meager, which is why the site has earned attention for its insights rather than for a well-documented history. The new findings are highlighted in the book The Archaeology of Finlaggan, Islay, by a team that spent decades studying the medieval site.
The remains dating to the 12th–13th centuries include a rectangular stone tower, living quarters, courtyards, kitchens, a chapel with a burial ground, and a great hall for feasting. Archaeologists note that the castle sits across the two loch islands, a layout that mirrors continental patterns where rectangular towers conveyed power and wealth. Such architecture would have signaled prestige and political significance to locals and rivals alike.
The castle may have been destroyed due to structural flaws or damage from attacks, and a palace was later built on the same site for the Lords of the Isles, reflecting a continuity of political importance even after the fortress fell.
The Lords of the Isles controlled the Hebrides, Argyll and parts of the northwest Highlands, and carried out raids in mainland Scotland, including Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness, into the 1500s. The new archaeological work adds to the narrative of a kingdom that left a tangible imprint on Scottish history, even as its records remain sparse.
“The processing of all the data that was gathered has been a major part of my life since the 1990s and I hope I have not only provided an account of interest but also a basis for others to carry out more research in the future,” said Dr. David Caldwell, who led the project and wrote the work accompanying the Finlaggan archaeology.
This discovery adds to the historical record of medieval Scotland and underscores Finlaggan’s role as a power center in a region where the Lords of the Isles exerted influence for generations. By stitching together architectural remains, artifact recoveries and historical context, researchers aim to illuminate a chapter of Scottish history that has long been described as nameless due to limited extant documentation.
The work on Finlaggan—an ongoing collaborative effort among the University of St Andrews and partner institutions—continues to refine understanding of how the Lords of the Isles operated, interacted with their neighbors, and sustained a political and cultural presence across Scotland’s western seaboard. As researchers publish new findings, Finlaggan’s layered past becomes a clearer part of the broader story of medieval power, diplomacy and daily life in the islands.
