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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
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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”
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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.
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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.
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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
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Orkney College Geophysics Unit
Geophysics, magnetometer surveys in The Heart of Neolithic Orkney
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Ness of Brodgar Neolithic temple complex… in the
Heart of Neolithic Orkney.
2008
Working with Orkneyjar website
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Quoygrew, Westray
From 1000AD to 16th century
James Barrett York
University
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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.
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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
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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
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Orkney’s Thing Sites
• A bit of a mystery
• Not yet the focus of academic research or economic development
• Great potential
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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
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Tingwall
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Sheltered water and
small harbour basin
Gairsay
(Swein Asleifarson)
Tingwall Mound
Wyre (Kolbein Hruga)
Tingwall
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Dingieshowe
Dingieshowe
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Dingieshowe
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Orkneyinga Saga References
Pierowall Westray Photo Frank Bradford 59degreesN
Photo by Sigurd TowrieKirkwall
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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
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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
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