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