Archaeologists uncover wartime cartridges at Skansin

Archaeologists have uncovered artefacts, including cartridges dated 1940, during restoration work at Skansin fortress in Havn, Kringvarp Føroya reports.

“There are various things here, but this is particularly interesting because it directly points to the period when the British were here. These are cartridges, and the year 1940 is written on them,” said Helgi Michelsen, head of the archaeology department at the National Museum of the Faroe Islands.

The walls around Skansin are being restored because parts of them have bulged so far outward that they could collapse. The plan is to dismantle sections of the wall gradually and rebuild them. Before the stones can be removed, however, the soil inside the walls must be excavated. That work has revealed archaeological remains.

“What we hope is that we can see older phases of Skansin. This is where we can use these artefacts to tell us which period we are in,” Michelsen said.

Skansin was built in the 14th century on the orders of Magnus Heinason and has been used for various military activities. It has also served as a police station, warehouse and prison.