Identity in the Dark Age : a biocultural analysis of early medieval Scotland
This thesis explores identity in early mediaeval Scotland (ca 800-1300AD) using biological and burial deposition data. During this period Scotland was developing as a unified kingdom. The Norse, Scots, and Anglo-Saxons battled for political power. The Saxon and Irish Churches were pressuring for superiority over each other and over local beliefs. Many research areas in bioarchaeology have moved away from the more simplistic processual approach after a renewed understanding of the complexities of human existence. However, this newer methodology has not been sufficiently applied to early mediaeval Scottish studies. Common doxa still permeates the discipline despite the lack of critical assessment. Doxa tends to separate the early mediaeval Scottish world into the circumscribed categories of Norse (or âVikingâ) and native, Christian and pagan. These commonly accepted site designations regarding ethnicity and religion were used to assess three hundred and twenty-one individuals from 21 sites. These individuals were analysed macroscopically for age, sex, stature and limb ratios, craniometrics, joint degeneration and disease, musculo-skeletal stress markers, dental pathologies, and overall health and disease.
Lerwick, Danika C.
Osteology ; Palaeopathology ; Identity ; Viking ; Scot ; Pict ; Early Medieval ; Scotland ; Bioarchaeology
Identity in the Dark Age : a biocultural analysis of early medieval Scotland. This thesis explores identity in early mediaeval Scotland (ca 800-1300AD) using biological and burial deposition data. During this period Scotland was developing as a unified kingdom. The Norse, Scots, and Anglo-Saxons battled for political power. The Saxon and Irish Churches were pressuring for superiority over each other and over local beliefs. Many research areas in bioarchaeology have moved away from the more simplistic processual approach after a renewed understanding of the complexities of human existence. However, this newer methodology has not been sufficiently applied to early mediaeval Scottish studies. Common doxa still permeates the discipline despite the lack of critical assessment. Doxa tends to separate the early mediaeval Scottish world into the circumscribed categories of Norse (or âVikingâ) and native, Christian and pagan. These commonly accepted site designations regarding ethnicity and religion were used to assess three hundred and twenty-one individuals from 21 sites. These individuals were analysed macroscopically for age, sex, stature and limb ratios, craniometrics, joint degeneration and disease, musculo-skeletal stress markers, dental pathologies, and overall health and disease.
identity dark_age biocultural analysis early_medieval scotland explores identity early mediaeval scotland use biological burial deposition data period scotland develop unified kingdom norse scots anglo battle political_power saxon irish churches pressure superiority local belief many_area bioarchaeology move_away simplistic processual renew complexity human_existence however new sufficiently apply early mediaeval scottish study common still permeate discipline despite lack critical_assessment tend separate early mediaeval scottish world circumscribe category norse viking native christian pagan commonly accept site designation regard ethnicity religion use assess individual_site individual analyse macroscopically age_sex stature limb ratio joint degeneration disease skeletal_stress marker dental pathology overall health disease