Landscape, migration, and ethnicity in Viking Age Scotland
Around AD 800, Scandinavians arrived in Britain, and settled in the western and northern regions of Scotland. To date, there are over 30 Scandinavian furnished burial sites known in the Hebrides, the archipelago located along the western seaboard of Scotland. Traditionally, scholars have noted the richness of these burials – such as decorative sword hilts and silver brooches. Moreover, these burials are very similar to contemporary Scandinavian burials despite being placed in an entirely new landscape.
Where were these burial sites placed, and what could this tell us about Scandinavian settlement and power structures? What do the grave goods tell us about these burials? Is there any trace of the pre-Scandinavian peoples (Gaels and Picts) in the Scandinavian burial record? This lecture will attempt to answer these questions.