A sandstone head that could be more than 900-years-old has been discovered in a remarkable find on the Orkney island of Rousay.
Discovered by University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) archaeology student Katie Joss, the head was found hidden on a large wall.
Joss said: "It was quite a shock, we were removing a slab when the head came rolling out at us and as we turned it around we saw a face looking back at us. It was really exciting."
Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon stated how she was surprised by the details of the carvings.
UHI Archaeology Institute | The head was found hidden on a large wall
Having been co-director of the dig at Skaill Farm, which is now in its 10th year, Gibbon was amazed by the hair and face of the head.
She stated: "It looks very similar to a carved head in the south aisle of St Magnus Cathedral.
"It's really unusual, we've found nothing like this here at Skaill before.
"We don't know how the head ended up in the backfill of this building, though the fact that the nose is broken could be a clue."
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The head will be cleaned up and put on public display at some point in the future.
The site sits directly on top of what was once the Norse settlement of Sigurd of Westness, a renowned 12th-century Viking chieftain.
Archaeologist with the UHI Archaeology Institute, Dan Lee, said: "Sigurd was pals with Earl Rognvald, who built St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall.
"We think we are standing on the hall that Sigurd built and lived in, which then became a late-medieval farmstead.
UHI Archaeology Institute
|The discovery was made by archaeology student Katie Joss
"Right next door, we have the remains of St Mary's chapel and a medieval tower called The Wirk.
"We think this was a real seat of power in that period."
The discovery follows a rare and "mysterious" Roman artefact found by an amateur archaeological team in Lincolnshire.
A dodecahedron was found in the Potter Hill area of Norton Disney and is due to go on show at the University of Nottingham Museum at Lakeside Arts.
Its purpose is unknown and remains what is known as an archaeological enigma.