The Norse in Orkney : an archaeological and social anthropological study of the Norse settlement process and the relationship between the Norse and the Picts
This thesis examines the nature of the Norse settlement in Orkney, concentrating on the relationship between the Picts and the Norse. To reach an understanding of the social and economic context in Viking Age Scandinavia and Orkney, which is considered crucial to the understanding of the Norse settlement, the Icelandic sagas and social anthropology are used together with archaeology. For instance, social anthropological concepts such as 'economic spheres' have been applied to the archaeological material in order to gain an understanding of the economic transactions and social relationships that resulted in a mix of Pictish and Norse artefacts on Norse settlement sites in Orkney. Further, the phenomenon of hoarding and the nature of the Viking and Pictish hoards are examined in order to gain insight into the nature of the economic climate and the different types of transactions that may have taken place between the Norse and the Picts. Three different geographical areas of Orkney, Birsay, Deerness and Burray, are compared and contrasted, and it is argued that the Norse settlement was largely peaceful and in the early stages utilised existing Pictish institutions, such as the land administration. It is argued
BĂ€cklund, Jessica Kathrine
The Norse in Orkney : an archaeological and social anthropological study of the Norse settlement process and the relationship between the Norse and the Picts. This thesis examines the nature of the Norse settlement in Orkney, concentrating on the relationship between the Picts and the Norse. To reach an understanding of the social and economic context in Viking Age Scandinavia and Orkney, which is considered crucial to the understanding of the Norse settlement, the Icelandic sagas and social anthropology are used together with archaeology. For instance, social anthropological concepts such as 'economic spheres' have been applied to the archaeological material in order to gain an understanding of the economic transactions and social relationships that resulted in a mix of Pictish and Norse artefacts on Norse settlement sites in Orkney. Further, the phenomenon of hoarding and the nature of the Viking and Pictish hoards are examined in order to gain insight into the nature of the economic climate and the different types of transactions that may have taken place between the Norse and the Picts. Three different geographical areas of Orkney, Birsay, Deerness and Burray, are compared and contrasted, and it is argued that the Norse settlement was largely peaceful and in the early stages utilised existing Pictish institutions, such as the land administration. It is argued
norse orkney archaeological social anthropological_study norse_settlement process relationship norse examine nature norse_settlement orkney concentrate relationship norse reach social_economic context viking_age scandinavia orkney consider crucial norse_settlement icelandic social_anthropology use together archaeology instance social anthropological concept economic_sphere applied archaeological_material order_gain economic transaction social_relationship result mix pictish norse artefact norse_settlement sit orkney phenomenon hoard nature viking pictish hoard examine order_gain insight_nature economic_climate different_type transaction may_take place norse three_different geographical_area orkney compare_contrast argue norse_settlement largely peaceful early_stage utilise exist pictish institution land administration argue