The Vikings were not the first colonizers of the Faroe Islands

Church, M. J. et al. (2013) The Vikings were not the first colonizers of the Faroe Islands. Quaternary Science Reviews, 77, pp. 228-232. (doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2013.06.011)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2013.06.011

Abstract

We report on the earliest archaeological evidence from the Faroe Islands, placing human colonization in the 4th–6th centuries AD, at least 300–500 years earlier than previously demonstrated archaeologically. The evidence consists of an extensive wind-blown sand deposit containing patches of burnt peat ash of anthropogenic origin. Samples of carbonised barley grains from two of these ash patches produced <sup>14</sup>C dates of two pre-Viking phases within the 4th–6th and late 6th–8th centuries AD. A re-evaluation is required of the nature, scale and timing of the human colonization of the Faroes and the wider North Atlantic region.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Cook, Professor Gordon and Ascough, Dr Philippa
Authors: Church, M. J., Arge, S. V., Edwards, K. J., Ascough, P. L., Bond, J. M., Cook, G. T., Dockrill, S. J., Dugmore, A. J., McGovern, T. H., Nesbitt, C., and Simpson, I. A.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
Journal Name:Quaternary Science Reviews
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0277-3791
ISSN (Online):1873-457X

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record