‘making viking archaeology work in orkney- the place of things’ julie gibson and sarah jane...

‘‘Making Viking Archaeology Making Viking Archaeology Work in Orkney- the place of Work in Orkney- the place of

Things’ Things’

Julie GibsonJulie Gibsonand Sarah Jane Gibbon and Sarah Jane Gibbon

Orkney Islands Council and Orkney College, UHIOrkney Islands Council and Orkney College, UHI

Numbers visiting archaeological sites as

main activity• 23% in Orkney (Orkney Tourist

Board, 2000)• 1% in Highlands (Highland Visitor

Survey,)2002

• Orkney 63% did archaeology whilst here

• Highland 61% did “sight seeing”

Value of Tourism to economy, in Orkney 2001

• Farming £55 million• Tourism £28 million• The rest much less!

• Minimum of £6m per annum income attributable to archaeology. Holistic branding raises value of all sectors.

Employment/Businesses in Orkney supported by archaeological heritage

• Historic Scotland • University of Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute

(researchers/teachers/ technical staff)• OIC Museums/heritage • Accommodation operators• Transport operators (buses/taxis/ferries/air)• Harbours (cruise ships fees)• Specialist tour companies (also outwith Orkney)• Private operators of archaeological sites-based heritage centres• Retailers• Jewellers• Farmers (Agri-environment schemes)• Independent, voluntary community heritage (many of these)

The multiplier benefit of any spend in our tiny communities is huge.

Orkney College Geophysics Unit

SAA 2008: The Heart of Neolithic Orkney

Developing the market• Markets can fall as well as rise. Jersey (as

comparitor UK island) has seen drop in visitor numbers

• Requirement to ensure interpretation is not static - expert, up to date research needed

• Requirement to develop audience - taking passive viewers (via various media)- making active visitors

• Quantity: Need to develop number of sites in any one area

• Quality • Sustainable tourism

Orkney College Geophysics Unit

Geophysics, magnetometer surveys in The Heart of Neolithic Orkney

Ness of Brodgar Neolithic temple complex… in the

Heart of Neolithic Orkney.

2008

Working with Orkneyjar website

Quoygrew, Westray

From 1000AD to 16th century

James Barrett York

University

The boat itself, the three grave companions, their everlasting treasure: A pagan statement of Norwegian roots. Buried c.1000AD. A chance find by farmer.

Dalland & Owen

On display in Orkney Museum

Grave goods from the Scar boat grave.

International support: Visit of Arni Magnusson Institute

scholars

Geophysics survey showing

foundations by Orkney College

Excavation – by James Barrett, Cambridge

University

Brough of Deerness:

Current work to develop a Viking age visitor site

on a cliff stack

Research in practice in a rural University

• Systematic fact finding for baseline data (auditing)

• Opportunistic and targetted data collection- e.g. related to management and threats

• Responsive research based on community need

• Supported by Research initiatives; studentships and programmes

• Creating Applied research

For • Knowledge transfer

Orkney’s Thing Sites

• A bit of a mystery

• Not yet the focus of academic research or economic development

• Great potential

What do we have?

• Two ‘ting’ derived place-names

• Ten references to ‘tings’ being held in Orkney in the Orkneyinga Saga (located and unlocated)

• Meagre later medieval historical documentation of regular Lawtings

Tingwall

Sheltered water and

small harbour basin

Gairsay

(Swein Asleifarson)

Tingwall Mound

Wyre (Kolbein Hruga)

Tingwall

Dingieshowe

Dingieshowe

Dingieshowe

Orkneyinga Saga References

Pierowall Westray Photo Frank Bradford 59degreesN

Photo by Sigurd TowrieKirkwall

C15 – 17 Historical References

Lawman Royal Judge & presiding officer of Lawting

Hirdmansteinn, Lawting, Allhallow (Wapenstein)

24 members of Lawting – goodmen, roithmen, lawrikmen, baillies

‘Baillie’ Courts with a Norse Legacy

Summary

To give meaning to these places we need : -

• A place-name audit of assembly sites• Targeted field investigation

• Exploration of folklore and historical material

A holistic interpretation of the thing sites in their cultural environments, both local and

international