INCREDIBLE never-before-seen images show ancient skeletons and artefacts discovered by a retired Scottish racing driver in his garden.
Kristian Leith was digging foundations for a shed in his garden in Scalloway, Shetland when he made the amazing discovery.
The 42-year-old called Historic Scotland who uncovered 26 human skeletons at the site that are believed to date back from the 1400s.
He also found a “treasure trove” of ancient artefacts, including animal tusks, cooking utensils and ancient jewellery.
The photos show the remains including a separated skull poking out from under the earth during the dig.
While another shows ribs and other bones protruding.
Snaps of the artefacts reveal a boar tusk and wolf teeth used by the Vikings to create necklaces worn in battle.
Another shows a bone toggle, similar to a necklace clasp, fastened to a faded wooden carving.
Several of the images show a quartz-embedded grinding stone used for sharpening tools and weapons.
While two photos show a decorated loomweight, used for measuring items and cooking.
Discussing his finds, Kristian said: “The loomweight is a treasure trove of items. Any sort of decoration is exceptional.
“There a like only three or four like that, which have been found in the UK. but they were most interested in the bone toggle as it had like a bird or fish carving on it.
“The quern ‘grinding’ stone seem to be unique, the only one of its kind.”
Kristian also believes the discovery proves the current explanation for why Scalloway was the ancient capital of Shetland is wrong and has nothing to do with the castle that was built in 1600.
He said: “I strongly believe this site is the ancient, cultural, historical and as yet undiscovered capital of Shetland.
“Scalloway is seen as the ancient capital of Shetland because of the castle, but these finds have proven there is more to it than meets the eye.
“We are convinced that there is a settlement as we wouldn’t have found half of these things. My house is on the top of the hill so it would extend to the sea the rest of the settlement.
“I think it was the Earl Patrick Stewart who took some form of ethnic or cultural cleansing to get rid of the history.
“He wasn’t in power long and must have a right b****** to the people here as he was removed from here and executed in Edinburgh.
“He must have done some horrible things for King James III to take action.
“I want a museum to be built eventually preserving all of these items and have the wheel houses working again and make Scalloway like a living history museum.
“This is the ancient capital of Shetland and it deserves to be historically recorded.”
Kristian uploaded the findings and pictures of the dig to Facebook on Monday
explaining it was found in a small 5mx12m area with the four Pictish roundhouses.
The same site was part of the dig in Upper Scalloway in 1990 when they found 22 skeletons, nine Pictish houses and a 20 metre diameter broch.
He is now looking to raise the funds for the excavation to ensure the history is recorded.
