Anchor found in Skye may be a Viking relic

AN ANCIENT anchor found on croft land on Skye is thought to be of Viking origin, it emerged yesterday.

The 4ft anchor was discovered by Graeme Mackenzie, of 2 Cruard, Sleat, as he was digging a drain on pasture near his home by the sea.

He said the object is undergoing tests to discover how old it is, but preliminary results show it is at least of mediaeval, possibly Viking, origin and could be 1,000 years old.

Mr Mackenzie took the anchor to the Clan Donald Lands Trust Museum of the Isles at Armadale to have it examined. He said he would be quite happy to leave it at the museum.

He added: “It was lying only 100 yards above the high water mark. The anchor was 2ft under the peat. I hauled it out not realising what it was, but luckily it came out in one piece. When I gave it a hose down it was obvious what it was.”

Many Norse raiders never returned to their native land, staying on Skye and many other places along the west coast.

Many Sleat names, such as Kyleakin, meaning Haakon’s straits, are of Norse origin. Sleat itself, meaning level or plain, is a Viking name.

A spokesman for the Treasure Trove Unit at the National Museums of Scotland said: “At the moment our working presumption is that the anchor is at least mediaeval and will probably be claimed by the Crown.”