Archaeologists in Argyll have found evidence of an ancient monastic settlement.

The announcement was made as the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) prepared to unveil a seven-year refurbishment project at the Crarae Garden.

Archaeologists carried out excavation at the site, which is located 10 miles south of Inveraray, as part of the regeneration works.

The site was known to be rich in archeology and there was evidence of a Neolithic chambered cairn, and a Bronze Age burial mound and a medieval church and graveyard.

The most recent digs have discovered that the church site is surrounded by a wide ditch and a stone bank, similar to the monastic vallum at Iona.

Radiocarbon dating suggests that the site dates from the 7th-9th century, making it contemporary with the Iona structures.

Derek Alexander, NTS Archaeologist, said in a statement: "It is very exciting to discover the remains of a small monastic settlement at Crarae.

"The surrounding ditch and bank, and the radiocarbon dates when set alongside the placename evidence of `Killevin' and the previous discovery of a 8th- 9th century cross in the graveyard, all point towards an important religious establishment.

"This was possibly an outlier related to the large early monastery sites on Iona or indeed on Lismore."

The archaeological work began in 2002 and was funded by the trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Argyll and Islands Enterprise.