In Search of the Vikings: Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Scandinavian Heritage of North-West England

"The title of this book expresses the nature of Viking studies as viewed by its editors and contributors: it is a search, and not an easy one, and by no means a complete one as yet. A thousand years is a long time for the traces of a migrant Scandinavian people and culture to remain detectable. Most of the settlements, burials and hoards they left behind have gradually disappeared under more modern development, or been eroded away, leaving only a few startling discoveries to be made in modern times. Carved stones in churches have fared a little better, but many have still been lost to posterity. Language, folk traditions and blood-lines have diffused with generations of later influences and new introductions, but some key aspects survive. Putting all these types of evidence together is a major challenge. No individual is expert in every research skill and area of understanding required. It is, and should be, a team effort. Until fairly recently, archaeologists, place-name scholars, linguists, saga-scholars, historians, and geneticists tended to work in their own separate disciplines, in some cases jealously guarding their territory. Few publications were brave or rash enough to attempt a genuinely interdisciplinary approach. We wanted to try to change that. North-west England is the focus, but not the narrow obsession, of this book. We recognise that it is only a small part of the wider Viking world. Even in Britain it is perhaps overshadowed by York, the Danelaw, and Orkney and Shetland. Its near (and inter-visible) neighbour the Isle of Man gives its Viking past a higher cultural profile, and just across the Irish Sea the great trading town of Dublin once stood pre-eminent in the western Viking World. Yet the Viking Age of north-west England has some intriguing facets: A number of distinctive localised settlement areas, with strong concentrations of Scandinavian place-names; some exciting excavations but many unanswered questions as to the extent of Viking settlement; rich surviving traces of Viking dialect in local speech and folklore; the largest Viking silver hoard yet known, from Cuerdale (Lancashire), and a rash of recent hoard discoveries. It has also produced some of the most promising biological data from genetic sampling programmes in the modern population, which is reason in itself to merit a reappraisal of the Viking influence in the region. Whatever flows from this will have much to say about north-west England but, we hope, potentially something useful to say about the rest of the Viking World. The basis of this book was an inter-disciplinary conference, held at the Grosvenor Museum, Chester, in November 2010, as a key part of the Footsteps of the Vikings project, funded by the UK Heritage Lottery Fund"--Provided by publisher. Read more... Abstract: "The title of this book expresses the nature of Viking studies as viewed by its editors and contributors: it is a search, and not an easy one, and by no means a complete one as yet. A thousand years is a long time for the traces of a migrant Scandinavian people and culture to remain detectable. Most of the settlements, burials and hoards they left behind have gradually disappeared under more modern development, or been eroded away, leaving only a few startling discoveries to be made in modern times. Carved stones in churches have fared a little better, but many have still been lost to posterity. Language, folk traditions and blood-lines have diffused with generations of later influences and new introductions, but some key aspects survive. Putting all these types of evidence together is a major challenge. No individual is expert in every research skill and area of understanding required. It is, and should be, a team effort. Until fairly recently, archaeologists, place-name scholars, linguists, saga-scholars, historians, and geneticists tended to work in their own separate disciplines, in some cases jealously guarding their territory. Few publications were brave or rash enough to attempt a genuinely interdisciplinary approach. We wanted to try to change that. North-west England is the focus, but not the narrow obsession, of this book. We recognise that it is only a small part of the wider Viking world. Even in Britain it is perhaps overshadowed by York, the Danelaw, and Orkney and Shetland. Its near (and inter-visible) neighbour the Isle of Man gives its Viking past a higher cultural profile, and just across the Irish Sea the great trading town of Dublin once stood pre-eminent in the western Viking World. Yet the Viking Age of north-west England has some intriguing facets: A number of distinctive localised settlement areas, with strong concentrations of Scandinavian place-names; some exciting excavations but many unanswered questions as to the extent of Viking settlement; rich surviving traces of Viking dialect in local speech and folklore; the largest Viking silver hoard yet known, from Cuerdale (Lancashire), and a rash of recent hoard discoveries. It has also produced some of the most promising biological data from genetic sampling programmes in the modern population, which is reason in itself to merit a reappraisal of the Viking influence in the region. Whatever flows from this will have much to say about north-west England but, we hope, potentially something useful to say about the rest of the Viking World. The basis of this book was an inter-disciplinary conference, held at the Grosvenor Museum, Chester, in November 2010, as a key part of the Footsteps of the Vikings project, funded by the UK Heritage Lottery Fund"--Provided by publisher The Title Of This Book Expresses The Nature Of Viking Studies As Viewed By Its Editors And Contributors: It Is A Search, And Not An Easy One, And By No Means A Complete One As Yet. A Thousand Years Is A Long Time For The Traces Of A Migrant Scandinavian People And Culture To Remain Detectable. Most Of The Settlements, Burials And Hoards They Left Behind Have Gradually Disappeared Under More Modern Development, Or Been Eroded Away, Leaving Only A Few Startling Discoveries To Be Made In Modern Times. Carved Stones In Churches Have Fared A Little Better, But Many Have Still Been Lost To Posterity. Language, Folk Traditions And Blood-lines Have Diffused With Generations Of Later Influences And New Introductions, But Some Key Aspects Survive. Putting All These Types Of Evidence Together Is A Major Challenge. No Individual Is Expert In Every Research Skill And Area Of Understanding Required. It Is, And Should Be, A Team Effort.^ Until Fairly Recently, Archaeologists, Place-name Scholars, Linguists, Saga-scholars, Historians, And Geneticists Tended To Work In Their Own Separate Disciplines, In Some Cases Jealously Guarding Their Territory. Few Publications Were Brave Or Rash Enough To Attempt A Genuinely Interdisciplinary Approach. We Wanted To Try To Change That. North-west England Is The Focus, But Not The Narrow Obsession, Of This Book. We Recognise That It Is Only A Small Part Of The Wider Viking World. Even In Britain It Is Perhaps Overshadowed By York, The Danelaw, And Orkney And Shetland. Its Near (and Inter-visible) Neighbour The Isle Of Man Gives Its Viking Past A Higher Cultural Profile, And Just Across The Irish Sea The Great Trading Town Of Dublin Once Stood Pre-eminent In The Western Viking World.^ Yet The Viking Age Of North-west England Has Some Intriguing Facets: A Number Of Distinctive Localised Settlement Areas, With Strong Concentrations Of Scandinavian Place-names; Some Exciting Excavations But Many Unanswered Questions As To The Extent Of Viking Settlement; Rich Surviving Traces Of Viking Dialect In Local Speech And Folklore; The Largest Viking Silver Hoard Yet Known, From Cuerdale (lancashire), And A Rash Of Recent Hoard Discoveries. It Has Also Produced Some Of The Most Promising Biological Data From Genetic Sampling Programmes In The Modern Population, Which Is Reason In Itself To Merit A Reappraisal Of The Viking Influence In The Region. Whatever Flows From This Will Have Much To Say About North-west England But, We Hope, Potentially Something Useful To Say About The Rest Of The Viking World.^ The Basis Of This Book Was An Inter-disciplinary Conference, Held At The Grosvenor Museum, Chester, In November 2010, As A Key Part Of The Footsteps Of The Vikings Project, Funded By The Uk Heritage Lottery Fund--provided By Publisher. 1. Interdisciplinary Approaches To The Scandinavian Heritage Of North-west England / David Griffiths And Stephen E. Harding -- 2. A Brief History And Archaeology Of Viking Activity In North-west England / David Griffiths -- 3. Speaking Like A Viking : Language And Cultural Interaction In The Irish Sea Region / Judith Jesch -- 4. Viking Age Women / Christina Lee -- 5. Taking Sides : North-west England Vikings At The Battle Of Tettenhall, Ad 910 / John Quanrud -- 6. The Battle Of Brunanburh In 937 : Battlefield Despatches / Paul Cavill -- 7. Viking Age Rural Settlement In Lowland North-west England : Identifying The Invisible? / Robert A. Philpott -- 8. A Viking-age Site At Workington, Cumbria : An Interim Statement / Mike Mccarthy And Caroline Paterson -- 9. Were The Vikings In Carlisle? / Mike Mccarthy, Janet Montgomery, Ceilidh Lerwich, And Jo Buckberry -- 10. Viking-age Silver In The North-west England : Hoards And Single Finds / Jane Kershaw -- 11. What Can Genetics Tell Us About The Vikings In The Wirral And West Lancashire? / Turi King -- 12. Figuring It Out : Further Work On The Neston Cross Fragments, Cheshire / Roger White. Editors, Stephen E. Harding, David Griffiths, Elizabeth Royles. A Crc Title, Part Of The Taylor & Francis Imprint, A Member Of The Taylor & Francis Group, The Academic Division Of T&f Informa Plc. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Content: Front Cover; Contents; Foreword; Preface; Contributors; Chapter 1: Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Scandinavian Heritage of North-West England; Chapter 2: A Brief History and Archaeology of Viking Activity in North-West England; Chapter 3: Speaking Like a Viking: Language and Cultural Interaction in the Irish Sea Region; Chapter 4: Viking Age Women; Chapter 5: Taking Sides: North-West England Vikings at the Battle of Tettenhall, AD 910; Chapter 6: The Battle of Brunanburh in 937: Battlefield Despatches. Chapter 7: Viking Age Rural Settlement in Lowland North-West England: Identifying the Invisible?Chapter 8: A Viking-Age Site at Workington, Cumbria: Interim Statement; Chapter 9: Were There Vikings in Carlisle?; Chapter 10: Viking-Age Silver in North-West England: Hoards and Single Finds; Chapter 11: What Can Genetics Tell Us about the Vikings in the Wirral and West Lancashire?; Chapter 12: Figuring It Out: Further Work on the Neston Cross Fragments, Cheshire; Back Cover. Abstract: The Viking Age lasted a little over three centuries, but has left a lasting legacy across Europe. These dynamic warrior-traders from Scandinavia, who fought and interacted with peoples as far apart as North America, Russia, and Central Asia, are some of the most recognizable historical figures in the western world. In the modern imagination they represent ruthlessness, heroism, adventurousness, and a unique prestige embellished by the wondrous tales and poetry of the sagas. Yet the sum of evidence for the Viking presence is far less clear than their reputation implies. In Search of Vikings pre The Viking Age lasted a little over three centuries, but has left a lasting legacy across Europe. These dynamic warrior-traders from Scandinavia, who fought and interacted with peoples as far apart as North America, Russia, and Central Asia, are some of the most recognizable historical figures in the western world. In the modern imagination they represent ruthlessness, heroism, adventurousness, and a unique prestige embellished by the wondrous tales and poetry of the sagas. Yet the sum of evidence for the Viking presence is far less clear than their reputation implies. In Search of Vikings presents a collection of papers from experts in a broad range of disciplines, including history, archaeology, genetics, and linguistics, to provide a detailed understanding of the Vikings in peace and in war. This book focuses on one particularly exciting area of the Viking world, namely the north-west region of England, where they are known to have settled in large numbers. North-west England was the crossroads between Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, and the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. It was a battleground for distant powers and dynasties, and its Irish Sea coastline created opportunities for trading and settlement. Silver hoards, burials, and Old Norse place-names attest to the Viking presence, and Scandinavian DNA is detectable amongst the modern population. The 12 integrated studies in this book are designed to reinvigorate the search for Vikings in this crucial region and to provide must-reading for anyone interested in Viking history. Front Cover 1 Contents 7 Foreword 9 Preface 11 Contributors 13 Chapter 1: Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Scandinavian Heritage of North-­West England 15 Chapter 2: A Brief History and Archaeology of Viking Activity in North-­West England 47 Chapter 3: Speaking Like a Viking: Language and Cultural Interaction in the Irish Sea Region 65 Chapter 4: Viking Age Women 75 Chapter 5: Taking Sides: North-­West England Vikings at the Battle of Tettenhall, AD 910 85 Chapter 6: The Battle of Brunanburh in 937: Battlefield Despatches 109 Chapter 7: Viking Age Rural Settlement in Lowland North-­West England: Identifying the Invisible? 123 Chapter 8: A Viking-­Age Site at Workington, Cumbria: Interim Statement 141 Chapter 9: Were There Vikings in Carlisle? 151 Chapter 10: Viking-Age Silver in North-West England: Hoards and Single Finds 163 Chapter 11: What Can Genetics Tell Us about the Vikings in the Wirral and West Lancashire? 179 Chapter 12: Figuring It Out: Further Work on the Neston Cross Fragments, Cheshire 193 Back Cover 203 ForewordPrefaceContributorsInterdisciplinary Approaches to Scandinavian Heritage of North-West EnglandDavid Griffiths and Stephen E. HardingA Brief History and Archaeology of Viking Activity in North-West EnglandDavid GriffithsSpeaking Like a Viking: Language and Cultural Interaction in the Irish Sea RegionJudith JeschViking Age WomenChristina LeeTaking Sides: North-West England Vikings at Battle of Tettenhall, AD 910John QuanrudBattle of Brunanburh in 937: Battlefield DespatchesPaul CavillViking Age Rural Settlement in Lowland North-West England: Identifying the Invisible?Robert A. PhilpottViking-Age Site at Workington, Cumbria: Interim StatementMike McCarthy and Caroline PatersonWere There Vikings in Carlisle?Mike McCarthy, Janet Montgomery, Ceilidh Lerwick, and Jo BuckberryViking Age Silver in North-West England: Hoards and Single FindsJane KershawWhat Can Genetics Tell Us about Vikings in the Wirral and West Lancashire?Turi KingFiguring It Out: Further Work on Neston Cross Fragments, CheshireRoger WhiteIndex This book presents a collection of papers from experts in a broad range of disciplines, including history, archaeology, genetics, and linguistics, to provide a detailed understanding of the Vikings in peace and in war. It focuses on one particularly exciting area of the Viking world, namely the north-west section of England, where they are known to have settled in large numbers. The 12 integrated studies in this book are designed to reinvigorate the search for Vikings in this crucial region and to provide must-reading for anyone interested in Viking history.