~Few know an earl in fishing clothes~ : fish middens and the economy of the Viking Age and Late Norse earldoms of Orkney and Caithness, Northern Scotland
This thesis studies the origin and role of wealth in the Viking Age (late 8th to 11th century) and Late Norse (11th to 15th century) earldoms of Orkney and Caithness, northern Scotland. It has four aims. Firstly, it attempts to elucidate the key sources of wealth in the earldoms and, more specifically, the possible economic role of fish trade. Secondly, it investigates how control of these sources of wealth may have been distributed within Viking Age and Late Norse society. Thirdly, it attempts to isolate chronological trends in the utilisation of different sources of wealth and the social relations surrounding them. Finally, it was hypothesised that a consideration of these issues might illuminate the character and causes of the transition of Orkney, Caithness and Shetland from a semi-independent and non-Christian Viking Age polity to a periphery of medieval Christian Europe. Part 1 is a geographical and protohistorical survey of Viking Age and Late Norse Orkney, Caithness and Shetland. It discusses available evidence and establishes the considerable wealth of the earldoms. Part 2 investigates the possible sources of this wealth. It concludes by highlighting circumstantial evidence for an export trade in
Barrett, James Harold
D051 Ancient History ; HF Commerce ; D111 Medieval History ; DA Great Britain ; CC Archaeology
~Few know an earl in fishing clothes~ : fish middens and the economy of the Viking Age and Late Norse earldoms of Orkney and Caithness, Northern Scotland. This thesis studies the origin and role of wealth in the Viking Age (late 8th to 11th century) and Late Norse (11th to 15th century) earldoms of Orkney and Caithness, northern Scotland. It has four aims. Firstly, it attempts to elucidate the key sources of wealth in the earldoms and, more specifically, the possible economic role of fish trade. Secondly, it investigates how control of these sources of wealth may have been distributed within Viking Age and Late Norse society. Thirdly, it attempts to isolate chronological trends in the utilisation of different sources of wealth and the social relations surrounding them. Finally, it was hypothesised that a consideration of these issues might illuminate the character and causes of the transition of Orkney, Caithness and Shetland from a semi-independent and non-Christian Viking Age polity to a periphery of medieval Christian Europe. Part 1 is a geographical and protohistorical survey of Viking Age and Late Norse Orkney, Caithness and Shetland. It discusses available evidence and establishes the considerable wealth of the earldoms. Part 2 investigates the possible sources of this wealth. It concludes by highlighting circumstantial evidence for an export trade in
few know earl fish clothes fish midden economy viking_age late norse orkney caithness northern_scotland study origin role wealth viking_age late century late norse orkney caithness northern_scotland aim firstly attempt elucidate key source_wealth earldom specifically possible economic role fish trade secondly investigates control source_wealth may distribute within viking_age late norse society thirdly attempt isolate chronological trend utilisation different_source wealth social_relation surround them finally hypothesise consideration issue might illuminate character cause transition orkney caithness shetland semi independent non_christian viking_age polity periphery medieval christian europe part geographical survey viking_age late norse orkney caithness shetland discuss available_evidence establishes considerable wealth earldom part investigate possible source_wealth concludes highlight circumstantial evidence export trade