Archaeologists in Orkney have discovered the earliest carving of a human face ever found in Scotland.

The figurine from an excavation at the Links of Noltland on the island of Westray has been described as "a find of astonishing rarity".

Found at the end of last week, it is flat with a round head on top of a lozenge-shaped body.

There is a face with heavy brows, two dots for eyes and an oblong for a nose.

Richard Strachan, project manager and senior archaeologist with Historic Scotland said: "The find was made by archaeologist Jakob Kainz. It looked like the stone had been carved.

“As some of the mud crumbled off he saw an eye, then another and a nose, then a whole face staring back.”

"It was one of those Eureka moments - none of the archaeology team have seen anything like it before, it's incredibly exciting."

The building being excavated was once a farmhouse, carefully built to look impressive, and standing within a network of fields.

As the building decayed, it began to fill with rubble and midden.

The figurine was found among the midden, suggesting it came from a time after the structure's use as a farm house was ended.

The Minister for Culture, Michael Russell, said: "This is a find of tremendous importance. Representations of people are incredibly unusual in Britain. What we are seeing here is the earliest known human face in Scotland.

“It once again emphasises the tremendous importance of Orkney's archaeology and also of the Links of Noltland site."

What the carving was for is uncertain, but experts think it may have been for ceremonial purposes.