View from the Norse: bringing island theory to the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland

Pierce, E. (2011) View from the Norse: bringing island theory to the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland. Scottish Archaeological Journal, 33(1-2), pp. 55-65. (doi: 10.3366/saj.2011.0024)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3366/saj.2011.0024

Abstract

The study of islands in archaeology was originally biased toward the view that island societies were isolated, a stereotype that continues to be perpetuated in books and television. However, recent research has acknowledged that island societies are generally part of a network and exposed to outside influences. This paper applies island theory to the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland, specifically during the Norse settlement from the 9th century AD onward. Although today these areas are considered on the periphery of Britain, these islands were once at the heart of the Norse settlement of the North Atlantic. The settlement remains of the period in the Northern and Western Isles indicate the inhabitants kept their focus toward the sea, and their success as a central stop-over point within the North Atlantic zone is due partly to the fact that they are islands. This paper will examine to what extent the Northern and Western Isles fit into modern island theory and whether the Norse considered them islands. The paper finishes with a discussion of whether the British Isles and Ireland are, from a theoretical point of view, islands.

Item Type:Articles
Keywords:Island archaeology, island theory, Norse, Scottish isles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Pierce, Dr Elizabeth
Authors: Pierce, E.
Subjects:D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Archaeology
Research Group:Scottish Theoretical Archaeology Group
Journal Name:Scottish Archaeological Journal
Publisher:Edinburgh University Press
ISSN:1471-5767
ISSN (Online):1755-2028
Published Online:01 October 2011

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