A CARVED Pictish stone, a Viking drinking hall and a 1400-year-old skeleton are among the most sensational archaeological discoveries of 2019.

Scottish archaeological hub Dig It! complied the list covering the biggest finds of the year.

Dr Jeff Sanders from Dig It! said: “Archaeology is all about discovering stories and new chapters are added every year.”

The Pictish stone was discovered near Dingwall and is thought to have been carved around 1200 years ago.

In August, a large Norse hall was found at Skaill Farmstead on the island of Rousay.

The building is 13m long and suspected to have been the residence of a powerful chieftain.

A skeleton from the early Middle Ages was unearthed on the Black Isle in September.

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