FAS Heritage partnered with the University of York to undertake long-term research excavation of the site surrounding the medieval Church of St Colman (1994 to 2007). The site of discoveries of past discoveries of Pictish sculpture and a Viking silver hoard, excavations were to reveal a multi-period site. Beginning as an elite 6th-century Pictish settlement, in the late 7th century the land was granted to the foundation of an early Christian, Pictish monastery. The monastery featured an industrial complex, church, cemetery and farm. Monastic crafts included the production of vellum and the site is believed by some senior scholars to have produced the famous masterpiece, the Book of Kells. The research excavations were awarded Best Archaeological Project, British Archaeological Awards and were published as a Society of Antiquaries of Scotland monograph in 2016. FAS Heritage continues to pursue focussed research on the site.