- History and Classics
University Of Tasmania
Australia
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The Australian Early Medieval Association, Members, Faculty MemberCentre for the History of Emotions (Europe 1100-1800), History, Department MemberUniversity of Tasmania, School of History and Classics, Department Member add
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History, Archaeology, Medieval Studies, Historical Archaeology, Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval Archaeology, and 33 moreViking Age Archaeology, Medieval urban history, Vikings in the North Atlantic, Anglo-Saxon literature and culture, Celtic studies (Medieval Studies), Viking Studies, Viking Age Weapons, Viking Swords, Old Rus', Vikings in the East, Varangians, Provisioning a Viking army, Landscape Archaeology, Cultural Memory, Irish History, Vikings, Early Medieval Ireland, Arts and Humanities, Cultural Heritage, Identity (Culture), Identity, Viking Age, Medieval History, Viking Age Scandinavia, Anglo-Saxons, Anglo-Saxon Studies, Anglo-Saxon archaeology, Viking identities, Medieval Scandinavia, Early Medieval Scotland, Viking, Anglo Saxon Burial Studies (Archaeology), and Scandinavian Studies edit
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I have recently joined the Norse and the Sea team, with a specific focus on Viking Age and Norse harbours and sea rou... moreI have recently joined the Norse and the Sea team, with a specific focus on Viking Age and Norse harbours and sea routes in Western Scotland. Now that I am back in the UK I also hope to update the Viking Age 'Scandinavian' burial material in Scotland. This has been made into a database published online (link below) which includes maps, photographs, a brief summary and bibliographic material for each site. The process of interpretation is ongoing. edit
"The conquest and settlement of lands in eastern England by Scandinavians represents an extreme migratory episode. The cultural interaction involved one group forcing themselves upon another from a position of military and political... more
"The conquest and settlement of lands in eastern England by Scandinavians represents an extreme migratory episode. The cultural interaction involved one group forcing themselves upon another from a position of military and political power. Despite this seemingly dominant position, by 900 CE the immigrants appear to have largely adopted the culture of the Anglo-Saxons whom they had recently defeated. Informed by migration theory, this work proposes that a major factor in this assimilation was the emigration point of the Scandinavians and the cultural experiences which they brought with them.
Although some of the Scandinavians may have emigrated directly from Scandinavia, most of the first generation of settlers apparently commenced their journey in either Ireland or northern Francia, particularly Frisia. Consequently, it is the culture of Scandinavians in these regions that needs to be assessed in searching for the cultural impact of Scandinavians upon eastern England. This may help to explain how the immigrants adapted to aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture, such as the issuing of coinage and at least public displays of Christianity, relatively quickly. The geographic origins of the Scandinavians also explain some of the innovations introduced by the migrants, including the use of client kings and the creation of ‘buffer’ states.
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Although some of the Scandinavians may have emigrated directly from Scandinavia, most of the first generation of settlers apparently commenced their journey in either Ireland or northern Francia, particularly Frisia. Consequently, it is the culture of Scandinavians in these regions that needs to be assessed in searching for the cultural impact of Scandinavians upon eastern England. This may help to explain how the immigrants adapted to aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture, such as the issuing of coinage and at least public displays of Christianity, relatively quickly. The geographic origins of the Scandinavians also explain some of the innovations introduced by the migrants, including the use of client kings and the creation of ‘buffer’ states.
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Research Interests:
This website/blog (link above) comprises a list of culturally Scandinavian Viking Age burial sites in modern-day Scotland. Most of the burials included grave-goods and are dated c. 850-950. The regional lists include (in order from top to... more
This website/blog (link above) comprises a list of culturally Scandinavian Viking Age burial sites in modern-day Scotland. Most of the burials included grave-goods and are dated c. 850-950. The regional lists include (in order from top to bottom) burials where the site is known exactly, or at least to within 25m; those where the burial site is known to within 100m; and those where the approximate burial site is known but not to within 100m. The list excludes numerous burials where the site cannot be determined with any confidence. Photographs and maps are included of each site, along with a brief description and bibliographic literature. GPS points and NGR are also included to facilitate site visits. The emphasis is upon the location and visibility of the burials within the landscape, and what natural and man-made features were visible from the sites.
Research Interests:
Landscape Archaeology, Early Medieval Scotland, Viking Studies, Viking Age Archaeology, Death and Burial (Archaeology), and 8 moreBurial Practices (Archaeology), Vikings in the North Atlantic, Burial mounds (Archaeology), Scotland, Vikings, Viking Age, Archaeology of death and burial, and Burial Customs
This article explores the navigation and seafaring strategies used by Norse mariners in and around the Northern Isles of Scotland. To do so we draw upon a diverse range of sources including saga accounts, placenames, archaeological... more
This article explores the navigation and seafaring strategies used by Norse mariners in and around the Northern Isles of Scotland. To do so we draw upon a diverse range of sources including saga accounts, placenames, archaeological remains, early historic maps as well as logistical considerations. This diachronic perspective is inspired by Christer Westerdahl’s “maritime cultural landscapes” methodology as well as recent studies of prehistoric seafaring. It is demonstrated, through close examination of the available evidence, that the Norse mariners had very well-developed strategies to avoid dangers as well as maximize their efficiency at sea to ensure that journeys were as safe and fast as possible. Topics explored include navigation markers, naming strategies, landing places, portages, beacons, anchorages and pilots.
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This note assesses the likely location of the 'Ardvonrig' accompanied Viking Age burial found in 1862 on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, and considers whether the exact location of the burial can be determined following a visit... more
This note assesses the likely location of the 'Ardvonrig' accompanied Viking Age burial found in 1862 on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, and considers whether the exact location of the burial can be determined following a visit to the site in 2014. The possible reasons for the choice of burial location are then assessed.
Research Interests:
Our understanding of the winter camps used by the Viking Great Army in England between CE 865 and 878 has benefitted greatly from the discovery and excavation of the camps they used at Torksey (872–3), Repton (873–4), and possibly Aldwark... more
Our understanding of the winter camps used by the Viking Great Army in
England between CE 865 and 878 has benefitted greatly from the discovery and excavation of the camps they used at Torksey (872–3), Repton (873–4), and possibly Aldwark (875–6). These excavations have greatly fleshed out the scanty written sources on winter camps and provided an insight into such things as positioning and defences, activities carried out in the camps, the size of the camps and, crucially for this paper, the number of likely inhabitants. The area covered by the camp at Torksey, fifty-five hectares, suggests that it could have accommodated between 1,500 and 5,000 inhabitants (Hadley & Richards 2016: 26, 59), which is clearly at odds with the notion that Viking armies numbered in the hundreds rather than thousands (Sawyer 1971: 125–129). An interesting aspect of the Torksey excavations was the range of activities taking place at the camp in the winter of 872–3. These include metal-working, woodworking and textile working, trading, and possible currency production. Crucially, there is some evidence for local Anglo-Saxon
metal-workers, as well as women (Hadley & Richards 2016: 54–55, 57–58). This suggests that the number of people present in the winter camps does not necessarily represent the number of people in the Great Army, as once the army was established in a winter camp for a number of months they could have been joined by traders, crafts-people, and family members. Regardless of the total number of occupants that inhabited the camp, the Torksey winter camp suggests that the army numbered at least 1,000 warriors, meaning that a large number of warriors was traversing England when they were not in a winter camp. This raises a number of logistical questions about the Great Army: what mode of transport did they use? Which routes did they take? How far could they travel each day? Where did they stay when they were not in a winter camp? How much food was required during a journey and how did they acquire it? This paper intends on making a start on answering these questions.
England between CE 865 and 878 has benefitted greatly from the discovery and excavation of the camps they used at Torksey (872–3), Repton (873–4), and possibly Aldwark (875–6). These excavations have greatly fleshed out the scanty written sources on winter camps and provided an insight into such things as positioning and defences, activities carried out in the camps, the size of the camps and, crucially for this paper, the number of likely inhabitants. The area covered by the camp at Torksey, fifty-five hectares, suggests that it could have accommodated between 1,500 and 5,000 inhabitants (Hadley & Richards 2016: 26, 59), which is clearly at odds with the notion that Viking armies numbered in the hundreds rather than thousands (Sawyer 1971: 125–129). An interesting aspect of the Torksey excavations was the range of activities taking place at the camp in the winter of 872–3. These include metal-working, woodworking and textile working, trading, and possible currency production. Crucially, there is some evidence for local Anglo-Saxon
metal-workers, as well as women (Hadley & Richards 2016: 54–55, 57–58). This suggests that the number of people present in the winter camps does not necessarily represent the number of people in the Great Army, as once the army was established in a winter camp for a number of months they could have been joined by traders, crafts-people, and family members. Regardless of the total number of occupants that inhabited the camp, the Torksey winter camp suggests that the army numbered at least 1,000 warriors, meaning that a large number of warriors was traversing England when they were not in a winter camp. This raises a number of logistical questions about the Great Army: what mode of transport did they use? Which routes did they take? How far could they travel each day? Where did they stay when they were not in a winter camp? How much food was required during a journey and how did they acquire it? This paper intends on making a start on answering these questions.
Research Interests:
In 'Vikings', Scandinavian women are regularly depicted as warriors, or shieldmaidens, fighting both in international raids and in defending their homes. But is this portrayal likely to be accurate? Following an examination of the... more
In 'Vikings', Scandinavian women are regularly depicted as warriors, or shieldmaidens, fighting both in international raids and in defending their homes. But is this portrayal likely to be accurate? Following an examination of the depiction of warrior women in the series, this essay will try to answer this question by focusing on one of the regions that shieldmaidens in the series are shown fighting in, Anglo-Saxon England. England benefits from having primary written sources for the Viking Age, as well as numerous excavations, including the burials of three females with weapons, making them potential shieldmaidens.
Research Interests:
Gender Studies, Television Studies, Anglo-Saxon Studies, Anglo-Saxon Studies (History), Viking Studies, and 10 moreViking Age Archaeology, Early medieval Britain (Archaeology), Death and Burial (Archaeology), Anglo Saxon Burial Studies (Archaeology), Vikings in the North Atlantic, Viking Age Scandinavia, Vikings, Viking Age, Material Culture of the Viking age, and Viking Swords
Human sacrifice, as part of pre-Christian religious rites, is one of a number of violent attributes commonly associated with the Vikings both in post-Viking Age medieval written and visual sources and in popular imagination, the latter... more
Human sacrifice, as part of pre-Christian religious rites, is one of a number of violent attributes commonly associated with the Vikings both in post-Viking Age medieval written and visual sources and in popular imagination, the latter perhaps best exemplified by the ‘blood eagle’ as performed on Jarl Borg and King Ælle of Northumbria in the popular television show Vikings. But is there any unequivocal contemporary evidence for human sacrifice? This paper will briefly discuss the problems of interpreting the evidence for human sacrifice, before concentrating on the evidence from Britain and Ireland. Despite the silence of contemporary insular written sources, it is found that there is one certain and other probable examples of human sacrifices in the
archaeological records of England, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ireland. Amongst the probable examples is a new suggestion that human sacrifice occurred at Whithorn, the site of a Northumbrian bishopric and monastery, but now in southern Scotland. Discussion of Whithorn will be the focus of the article. The evidence for human sacrifice will be briefly discussed with regard to the active practice of Norse religious beliefs in Britain, and in the Scandinavian acculturation to indigenous practices,
including Christianity, in the ninth and tenth centuries CE.
archaeological records of England, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ireland. Amongst the probable examples is a new suggestion that human sacrifice occurred at Whithorn, the site of a Northumbrian bishopric and monastery, but now in southern Scotland. Discussion of Whithorn will be the focus of the article. The evidence for human sacrifice will be briefly discussed with regard to the active practice of Norse religious beliefs in Britain, and in the Scandinavian acculturation to indigenous practices,
including Christianity, in the ninth and tenth centuries CE.
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This chapter will investigate the record of culturally ‘Scandinavian’ Viking Age burials in Scotland to assess the age and sex ratios of those buried, as well as the mobility of those assessed by isotope analysis. This will lead to a... more
This chapter will investigate the record of culturally ‘Scandinavian’ Viking Age burials in Scotland to assess the age and sex ratios of those buried, as well as the mobility of those assessed by isotope analysis. This will lead to a discussion of migration routes to Scotland during the Viking Age, and address issues of identity.
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Despite the relative abundance of culturally Scandinavian burials (ie. those with grave-goods or otherwise different to indigenous burials) in present-day Scotland, only five Christian cemeteries are known with certainty to be associated... more
Despite the relative abundance of culturally Scandinavian burials (ie. those with grave-goods or otherwise different to indigenous burials) in present-day Scotland, only five Christian cemeteries are known with certainty to be associated with Scandinavian burials, although there are another three possible examples. Of the five certain sites, two are in the northern isles of Orkney and Shetland and three are in southern Scotland. This paper provides a brief overview of all eight sites before concentrating on the five certain examples. It considers the possible reasons for the choice of this burial location, and what it may say about the religious affiliation of the deceased and those who buried them, and the acculturation process between the immigrants and local populations. The different political circumstances in the regions of the sites are also examined. The paper concludes that there is no single answer to explain the phenomenon, and that it may point to the deliberate adoption of multiple burial locations by an incoming population wanting to fulfill multiple objectives: demonstrating their legitimacy, remembering their cultural heritage, and adapting to the practices and practicalities of their new home.
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In Orkney, most Scandinavian accompanied burials are close to the sea, settlements, and, to a lesser extent, pre-Viking Age monuments. The first two were largely prosaic choices, but the latter may indicate an aspect of the mindset of the... more
In Orkney, most Scandinavian accompanied burials are close to the sea, settlements, and, to a lesser extent, pre-Viking Age monuments. The first two were largely prosaic choices, but the latter may indicate an aspect of the mindset of the incoming elite. Based on studies of the re-use of pre-Viking Age monuments in Viking Age Scandinavia, I propose that this
association was deliberate and related to a desire to legitimize the occupation of the land and signal the control of the seaways. I also suggest that burial re-use was common before prominent settlement mounds began to perform these functions.
association was deliberate and related to a desire to legitimize the occupation of the land and signal the control of the seaways. I also suggest that burial re-use was common before prominent settlement mounds began to perform these functions.
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The wide-ranging interests of the Scandinavians who controlled Dublin from 851, known as the dubh gall (and later the Uí Ímair), have been noted by some scholars. At various times they are thought to have controlled or exercised some form... more
The wide-ranging interests of the Scandinavians who controlled Dublin from 851, known as the dubh gall (and later the Uí Ímair), have been noted by some scholars. At various times they are thought to have controlled or exercised some form of over-lordship over the Kingdom of Northumbria, northern Wales, and southern Scotland, including the Kingdom of Strathclyde. Although evidence from present-day northern England and southern Scotland are often assessed separately, it is important to note that much of southern Scotland was part of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria up to c. 950 CE. It is argued in this paper that the political interests of Scandinavian kings of York (members of the dubh gall/Uí Ímair), often aligned with the Archbishop of York and the Community of St Cuthbert, explains much of the evidence for Scandinavian burial and settlement.
Research Interests:
History, Medieval History, Anglo-Saxon Studies, Landscape Archaeology, Anglo-Saxon Studies (History), and 9 moreScottish History, Viking Studies, Viking Age Archaeology, Death and Burial (Archaeology), Anglo Saxon Burial Studies (Archaeology), Anglo-Saxon archaeology, Vikings, Viking Age, and Anglo-Saxons
A collection of metalwork — a sword, penannular brooch, and sickle — was found close together in 1989 at Carronbridge in north-central Dumfriesshire and they are thought to have been deposited in the ninth or tenth centuries. In the... more
A collection of metalwork — a sword, penannular brooch, and sickle — was found close together in 1989 at Carronbridge in north-central Dumfriesshire and they are thought to have been deposited in the ninth or tenth centuries. In the published report it was suggested that they belonged to a ‘lone traveller’, and a later review of the burial concluded that it should be raised ‘to the category of pagan Norse burials marked as “uncertain’’’. Having reconsidered the evidence and viewed the location of the Carronbridge burial I suggest that it should be moved to the ‘certain’ category. A short review of the evidence for Scandinavians in Dumfriesshire is also given, including the circumstances that may have led to the burial.
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This note reports on the recent rediscovery of runestone U 170 near Bogesund in Sweden. In particular, the position of the monument within the 11th-century landscape is examined in light of the informative text that provides important... more
This note reports on the recent rediscovery of runestone U 170 near Bogesund in Sweden. In particular, the
position of the monument within the 11th-century landscape is examined in light of the informative text that provides important
information on early churchyard burial in central Sweden. The likely reason for placing a Christian monument at
the edge of a pre-Christian burial ground is commented upon, including the likelihood of continued ancestor worship, as
is its relationship to water.
position of the monument within the 11th-century landscape is examined in light of the informative text that provides important
information on early churchyard burial in central Sweden. The likely reason for placing a Christian monument at
the edge of a pre-Christian burial ground is commented upon, including the likelihood of continued ancestor worship, as
is its relationship to water.
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Archaeology, Medieval History, Anglo-Saxon Studies, Landscape Archaeology, Medieval Studies, and 9 moreViking Studies, Viking identities, Viking diaspora, Viking Age Archaeology, Anglo Saxon Burial Studies (Archaeology), Anglo-Saxon archaeology, Viking Age, Anglo-Saxon England, and Viking Burial Customs
Various types of evidence have been used in the search for Norse migrants to eastern England in the latter ninth century. Most of the data gives the impression that Norse females were far outnumbered by males. But using burials that are... more
Various types of evidence have been used in the search for Norse migrants to eastern England in the latter ninth century. Most of the data gives the impression that Norse females were far outnumbered by males. But using burials that are most certainly Norse and that have also been sexed osteologically provides very different results for the ratio of male to female Norse migrants. Indeed, it suggests that female migration may have been as significant as male, and that Norse women were in England from the earliest stages of the migration, including during the campaigning period from 865.
Research Interests:
Military History, Anglo-Saxon Studies, Race and Ethnicity, Viking Studies, Viking Age Archaeology, and 7 moreAnglo Saxon Burial Studies (Archaeology), Anglo-Saxon archaeology, Anglo-Saxon/Anglo-Scandinavian settlement, Viking Age Conflict Archaeology, Medieval Europe, Anglo-Norman history, women and family, monasticism, Anglo-Saxon history, Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, and Anglo-Saxon history
Uses the account of Ohthere and runic inscriptions to demonstrate that at least some members of the Scandinavian aristocracy had a sense of belonging to supra-regional entities.
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Feeding the micel here in England c. 865-87 by Shane McLeod "With the question of the probable size of ninth-century Viking armies remaining unresolved, this paper examines one of the primary impediments to fielding a large army: the... more
Feeding the micel here in England c. 865-87
by Shane McLeod
"With the question of the probable size of ninth-century Viking armies remaining unresolved, this paper examines one of the primary impediments to fielding a large army: the availability of food. Perhaps the best documented Viking army of the century, the great army during its campaign in England, is the focus of this investigation. It is argued that historians have often ignored probable sources of food for the army, particularly the likelihood that food was regularly provided as part of peace treaties, and have consequently overstated the difficulty of maintaining a large army in hostile territory. Furthermore, the role that the kingdoms conquered by the great army and subsequently held on its behalf by puppet administrations may have played has also not been considered.
by Shane McLeod
"With the question of the probable size of ninth-century Viking armies remaining unresolved, this paper examines one of the primary impediments to fielding a large army: the availability of food. Perhaps the best documented Viking army of the century, the great army during its campaign in England, is the focus of this investigation. It is argued that historians have often ignored probable sources of food for the army, particularly the likelihood that food was regularly provided as part of peace treaties, and have consequently overstated the difficulty of maintaining a large army in hostile territory. Furthermore, the role that the kingdoms conquered by the great army and subsequently held on its behalf by puppet administrations may have played has also not been considered.
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A short blog entry for the Histories of Emotion page. Link above!
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An unexpected article about my article in Early Medieval Europe. This is much more accurate than more recent blog reports.
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A brief interview interview with someone from the ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions about my work. This was unscripted and done with a few hours notice, so apologies in advance!
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... Adams, Jonathan and Katherine Holman, eds, Scandinavia and Europe 800-1350: Contact, Conflict, and Coexistence (Medieval Texts and Cultures of Northern Europe, 4), Turnhout, Brepols ...Shane McLeod Department of Archaeology and... more
... Adams, Jonathan and Katherine Holman, eds, Scandinavia and Europe 800-1350: Contact, Conflict, and Coexistence (Medieval Texts and Cultures of Northern Europe, 4), Turnhout, Brepols ...Shane McLeod Department of Archaeology and Ancient History Uppsala University ...
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This new corpus fills a large gap previously left in both the runic corpus of Britain, and the corpus of Scandinavian runic inscriptions. The 'Britain' of the corpus is essentially England and Scotland, with Ireland, the Isle of... more
This new corpus fills a large gap previously left in both the runic corpus of Britain, and the corpus of Scandinavian runic inscriptions. The 'Britain' of the corpus is essentially England and Scotland, with Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the inscriptions from the prehistoric stone ...
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Robert Hasenfratz and Thomas Jambeck explain that their Reading Old English textbook aims to teach students in both undergraduate courses and postgraduate seminars the earliest written form of the English language in six to seven weeks... more
Robert Hasenfratz and Thomas Jambeck explain that their Reading Old English textbook aims to teach students in both undergraduate courses and postgraduate seminars the earliest written form of the English language in six to seven weeks (p. xix). Although this time-frame is ...
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Review of Anders Winroth, The Age of the Vikings
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Medieval Philosophy, Medieval Literature, Medieval History, Medieval Studies, Medieval urban history, and 27 moreMedieval Islam, Medieval Women, Early Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Church History, Early Medieval History, Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval Ireland, Early Medieval Scotland, Medieval Europe, Medieval Architecture, Early Medieval And Medieval Settlement (Archaeology), Early medieval Britain (Archaeology), Medieval Art, Medieval Jewish History, Medieval Islamic History, Manuscripts (Medieval Studies), Early Medieval Art, Early and Medieval Islamic Art and Architecture, Early medieval numismatics, Archeologia medievale, Early and Medieval Irish, Irish History, Irish Literature, Medieval Literature, Medieval Studies, Celtic Studies, Irish Studies, History of Medicine in Medieval and Early Modern Europe, Early Medieval Monasticism, Early Medieval Weapons and Warfare, Early medieval Bulgaria, Early Medieval Transylvania, and Early Medieval Period
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Foundation and The Alliance for Useful Evidence, as well as sixty five university members. View the full list When most people think of Vikings, they think of the usual stuff: longships, raiding, fighting, loot, burial and paganism.... more
Foundation and The Alliance for Useful Evidence, as well as sixty five university members. View the full list When most people think of Vikings, they think of the usual stuff: longships, raiding, fighting, loot, burial and paganism. Scholars are increasingly aware that the reality was more complicated, but no doubt the popular associations will remain – and are reinforced by the likes of last year's Viking exhibition at the British Museum in London. Yet one aspect of Viking culture that gets little attention is funeral rites. There are very few sources that allow us to reconstruct in precise detail what happened during these complex ceremonies – there are no descriptions of funerals in Scotland, for example. But we can get a sense of Vikings' burial custom from a 10thcentury eyewitness account from Russia by Viking funerals remain shrouded in mystery. StockCube
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Migration and Acculturation: The impact of the Norse on Eastern England, c. 865-900. The settlement and settlement of lands in eastern England by Old Norse speakers, c. 865900, represents an extreme migratory episode. The cultural... more
Migration and Acculturation: The impact of the Norse on Eastern England, c. 865-900. The settlement and settlement of lands in eastern England by Old Norse speakers, c. 865900, represents an extreme migratory episode. The cultural interaction, both during the campaigning period and following Norse settlement, involved one group forcing themselves upon another, usually from a position of military and political power. Despite this seemingly dominant position, by 900 AD the Norse appear in the main to have adopted the culture of the Anglo-Saxons whom they had recently defeated. This thesis proposes that a major factor in this cultural assimilation was the emigration point of the Norse and the cultural experiences which they brought with them. Although much has been written on the settlement of Norse groups in England, most scholars have focused on the comparatively abundant evidence available for the tenth century, attributable to the second and later generations of Norse and later mig...
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Despite the relative abundance of culturally Scandinavian burials (ie. those with grave-goods or otherwise different to indigenous burials) in present-day Scotland, only five Christian cemeteries are known with certainty to be associated... more
Despite the relative abundance of culturally Scandinavian burials (ie. those with grave-goods or otherwise different to indigenous burials) in present-day Scotland, only five Christian cemeteries are known with certainty to be associated with Scandinavian burials, although there are another three possible examples. Of the five certain sites, two are in the northern isles of Orkney and Shetland and three are in southern Scotland. This paper provides a brief overview of all eight sites before concentrating on the five certain examples. It considers the possible reasons for the choice of this burial location, and what it may say about the religious affiliation of the deceased and those who buried them, and the acculturation process between the immigrants and local populations. The different political circumstances in the regions of the sites are also examined. The paper concludes that there is no single answer to explain the phenomenon, and that it may point to the deliberate adoption of multiple burial locations by an incoming population wanting to fulfill multiple objectives: demonstrating their legitimacy, remembering their cultural heritage, and adapting to the practices and practicalities of their new home.
Research Interests:
Human sacrifice, as part of pre-Christian religious rites, is one of a number of violent attributes commonly associated with the Vikings both in post-Viking Age medieval written and visual sources and in popular imagination, the latter... more
Human sacrifice, as part of pre-Christian religious rites, is one of a number of violent attributes commonly associated with the Vikings both in post-Viking Age medieval written and visual sources and in popular imagination, the latter perhaps best exemplified by the 'blood eagle' as performed on Jarl Borg and King AElle of Northumbria in the popular television show Vikings. But is there any unequivocal contemporary evidence for human sacrifice? This paper will briefly discuss the problems of interpreting the evidence for human sacrifice, before concentrating on the evidence from Britain and Ireland. Despite the silence of contemporary insular written sources, it is found that there is one certain and other probable examples of human sacrifices in the archaeological records of England, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ireland. Amongst the probable examples is a new suggestion that human sacrifice occurred at Whithorn, the site of a Northumbrian bishopric and monastery, but now...
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Anglo-Saxon Studies, Landscape Archaeology, Medieval, Human sacrifice (Anthropology Of Religion), Early Medieval Ireland, and 10 moreEarly Medieval Scotland, Viking Studies, Medieval England, Viking Age Archaeology, Sacrifice, Burial, Vikings, Viking Age, Material Culture of the Viking age, and Death and Burial Archaeology
Foundation and The Alliance for Useful Evidence, as well as sixty five university members. View the full list When most people think of Vikings, they think of the usual stuff: longships, raiding, fighting, loot, burial and paganism.... more
Foundation and The Alliance for Useful Evidence, as well as sixty five university members. View the full list When most people think of Vikings, they think of the usual stuff: longships, raiding, fighting, loot, burial and paganism. Scholars are increasingly aware that the reality was more complicated, but no doubt the popular associations will remain – and are reinforced by the likes of last year's Viking exhibition at the British Museum in London. Yet one aspect of Viking culture that gets little attention is funeral rites. There are very few sources that allow us to reconstruct in precise detail what happened during these complex ceremonies – there are no descriptions of funerals in Scotland, for example. But we can get a sense of Vikings' burial custom from a 10thcentury eyewitness account from Russia by Viking funerals remain shrouded in mystery. StockCube
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Abstract: With the question of the probable size of ninth-century Viking armies remaining unresolved, this paper examines one of the primary impediments to fielding a large army: the availability of food. Perhaps the best documented... more
Abstract: With the question of the probable size of ninth-century Viking armies remaining unresolved, this paper examines one of the primary impediments to fielding a large army: the availability of food. Perhaps the best documented Viking army of the century, the great ...
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Christianity, History, Archaeology, Landscape Archaeology, Religious Conversion, and 15 moreMedieval Archaeology, Viking Studies, Runology, Runic inscriptions, Viking Age Archaeology, Landscape, Viking Age Scandinavia, Burial, Conversion, Vikings, Viking Age, Viking, Norse, Historical Studies, and Runes
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This note assesses the likely location of the ‘Ardvonrig’ accompanied Viking Age burial found in 1862 on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, and considers whether the exact location of the burial can be determined following a visit... more
This note assesses the likely location of the ‘Ardvonrig’ accompanied Viking Age burial found in 1862 on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, and considers whether the exact location of the burial can be determined following a visit to the site in 2014. The possible reasons for the choice of burial location are then assessed.
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Geography, Medieval History, Landscape Archaeology, Medieval Studies, Scottish Studies, and 15 moreScottish History, Early Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval History, Medieval Archaeology, Viking Age Archaeology, Vikings in the North Atlantic, Archaeology of burials, Scotland, Vikings, Viking Age, Archaeology of death and burial, Burial Customs, Standing Stones, Death and Burial Archaeology, and Burial Practices Archaeology
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Review(s) of: The North in the Old English Orosius: A Geographical Narrative in Context, by Valtonen, Irmeli, (Helsinki: Societe Neophilologique, Memoires de la Societe Neophilologique de Helsinki Tome LXXIII, 2008) paperback, 672 pages,... more
Review(s) of: The North in the Old English Orosius: A Geographical Narrative in Context, by Valtonen, Irmeli, (Helsinki: Societe Neophilologique, Memoires de la Societe Neophilologique de Helsinki Tome LXXIII, 2008) paperback, 672 pages, 11 b/w illustrations, RRP 65.00 , ISBN 9789519040295.
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The portrayal of the ‘Vikings’ as an archetypal barbarian ‘other,’ wreaking death and destruction wherever they went, was already current in the medieval period, but in England the depictions became more extreme in the centuries after the... more
The portrayal of the ‘Vikings’ as an archetypal barbarian ‘other,’ wreaking death and destruction wherever they went, was already current in the medieval period, but in England the depictions became more extreme in the centuries after the attacks. This paper will focus on the texts and archaeology of ninth- and tenthcentury England and argue that in many respects Scandinavians were not as ‘other’ as later medieval writers believed. Furthermore, once Scandinavian groups settled in England the notion of ‘otherness’ appears to have quickly disappeared. Particular attention will be paid to the burial record as a means of identifying probable Scandinavians, and for evidence of acculturation to Anglo- Saxon Christian burial customs.
Research Interests:
Sociology, Archaeology, Publishing, Medieval History, Anglo-Saxon Studies, and 13 moreLandscape Archaeology, Medieval Studies, Viking Studies, Viking identities, Viking diaspora, Viking Age Archaeology, Anglo Saxon Burial Studies (Archaeology), Academic research, Viking Age, Commissioning, Anglo Saxon Archaeology, Anglo Saxon England, and Viking Burial Customs
Join researchers from the Universities of Aberdeen and Stirling as they share how findings from a multi-disciplinary project conducted on the Island of Eigg are providing unique insights into the historical use of sound and landscape in... more
Join researchers from the Universities of Aberdeen and Stirling as they share how findings from a multi-disciplinary project conducted on the Island of Eigg are providing unique insights into the historical use of sound and landscape in this area. We’ll explore the reconstruction of these funerary traditions through photography, videography, and soundscapes accompanying the talk. The accompanying exhibition runs until Christmas. The lecture and exhibition are free.
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Research Interests:
A collection of metalwork — a sword, penannular brooch, and sickle — was found close together in 1989 at Carronbridge in north-central Dumfriesshire and they are thought to have been deposited in the ninth or tenth centuries. In the... more
A collection of metalwork — a sword, penannular brooch, and sickle — was found close together in 1989 at Carronbridge in north-central Dumfriesshire and they are thought to have been deposited in the ninth or tenth centuries. In the published report it was suggested that they belonged to a ‘lone traveller’, and a later review of the burial concluded that it should be raised ‘to the category of pagan Norse burials marked as “uncertain’’’. Having reconsidered the evidence and viewed the location of the Carronbridge burial I suggest that it should be moved to the ‘certain’ category. A short review of the evidence for Scandinavians in Dumfriesshire is also given, including the circumstances that may have led to the burial.
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This chapter will investigate the record of culturally 'Scandinavian' Viking Age burials in Scotland to assess the age and sex ratios of those buried, as well as the mobility of those assessed by isotope analysis. This will lead... more
This chapter will investigate the record of culturally 'Scandinavian' Viking Age burials in Scotland to assess the age and sex ratios of those buried, as well as the mobility of those assessed by isotope analysis. This will lead to a discussion of migration routes to Scotland during the Viking Age, and address issues of identity.
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This note assesses the likely location of the ‘Ardvonrig’ accompanied Viking Age burial found in 1862 on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, and considers whether the exact location of the burial can be determined following a visit... more
This note assesses the likely location of the ‘Ardvonrig’ accompanied Viking Age burial found in 1862 on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, and considers whether the exact location of the burial can be determined following a visit to the site in 2014. The possible reasons for the choice of burial location are then assessed.
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Scandinavian women are regularly depicted as warriors, or shieldmaidens, fighting both in international raids and in defending their homes in the popular television series Vikings. But is this portrayal likely to be accurate? Following an... more
Scandinavian women are regularly depicted as warriors, or shieldmaidens, fighting both in international raids and in defending their homes in the popular television series Vikings. But is this portrayal likely to be accurate? Following an examination of the depiction of warrior women in the series, this paper will try to answer this question by focussing on one of the regions that shieldmaidens in the series are shown fighting in, Anglo-Saxon England. England benefits from having primary written sources for the Viking Age, as well as numerous excavations, including the burials of three females with weapons, making them potential shieldmaidens.
Research Interests:
History, Gender Studies, Television Studies, Anglo-Saxon Studies, Anglo-Saxon Studies (History), and 11 moreViking Studies, Viking Age Archaeology, Early medieval Britain (Archaeology), Anglo Saxon Burial Studies (Archaeology), Vikings in the North Atlantic, Viking Age Scandinavia, Vikings, Viking Age, Material Culture of the Viking age, Death and Burial Archaeology, and Viking Swords
Review(s) of: The Viking world, by Brink, Stefan, and Price, Neil S. (eds), (London: Routledge, 2010) hardback; xxii + 717 pages; RRP 135.00; ISBN 9780415333153.
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Review(s) of: Aethelstan: The first king of England, by Foot, Sarah, Yale English Monarchs Series (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2012), paperback, xx + 283 pages, RRP US$30, ISBN 9780300187717.
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Review(s) of: The northern earldoms: Orkney and caithness from AD 870 to 1470, by Crawford, Barbara E., Edinburgh: John Donald, 2013, hardcover, xxiii + 440 pages, 49 b/w figures, 40 colour plates, 9 b/w plates, RRP 25.00 pounds, ISBN... more
Review(s) of: The northern earldoms: Orkney and caithness from AD 870 to 1470, by Crawford, Barbara E., Edinburgh: John Donald, 2013, hardcover, xxiii + 440 pages, 49 b/w figures, 40 colour plates, 9 b/w plates, RRP 25.00 pounds, ISBN 978904607915.
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Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Launched in 2014, the aim of the Funeralscapes project is to explore the interplay between landscape, music and emotion by conducting re-enactment fieldwork at pre-modern burial sites in Scotland. In 2014 re-creations of aspects of a... more
Launched in 2014, the aim of the Funeralscapes project is to explore the interplay between landscape, music and emotion by conducting re-enactment fieldwork at pre-modern burial sites in Scotland. In 2014 re-creations of aspects of a Viking funeral at an archaeologically attested Viking burial site was conducted with adult and primary school aged community volunteers on the Isle of Eigg. The aim was to investigate how Viking Age funeral music and movement (such as processions) could have worked in their immediate environment, and what emotional responses the modern-day participants had to the landscape and music. Following a brief outline of the site and performance choices, this paper draws upon fieldwork and interviews conducted with the participants following the re-enactments. It particularly comments upon the dramatic performance of heritage as a method through which the past is taught and remembered.