Antiquarians, Archaeologists, and Viking Fortifications
By Ben Raffield
Journal of the North Atlantic, No.20 (2013)
Abstract: This article addresses the depth of our knowledge regarding Viking fortifications in England, Scotland, and Wales, assessing perceptions of them as a monument type. This study includes the investigation of antiquarian influences upon the interpretation of these sites. It is suggested that archaeological knowledge of these monuments is largely fragmentary, and that in some cases, current understanding can in fact be based on interpretations dating back as far as the 17th or even 16th century. Additionally, it is proposed that Viking fortified sites do not exist with any form of homogeneity as a monument type. The research process of these investigations, findings, and two case studies are summarized. The article discusses the current state of knowledge regarding Viking fortifications and suggests how the study of them should proceed.
Throughout much of the period known as the “Viking Age”, Scandinavian groups arrived to raid and campaign on British soil. These forces required a safe place to overwinter or situate themselves while under threat from indigenous armies and populations. In England, they first “appear to have made use of natural islands, such as … Sheppey and Thanet” and continued to do so throughout the 9th, 10th, and 11th centuries. The 991 Battle of Maldon, Essex, supposedly involved the honorable but foolish act by Ealdorman Byrhtnoth of “[giving] too much room to those wretches” and allowing the opposing Viking army to cross from their base on Northey Island to engage in a “fair fight” on the Anglo-Saxon-held shore. Viking armies are also recorded as constructing purpose-built fortifications, with the locations of these occasionally being recorded with some accuracy. Despite this, there have been limited attempts to identify and excavate these sites, though in the past few decades some inroads have been made with the unexpected location of the Viking overwintering camp at Repton, Derbyshire, used during the period 873–874. Current work being undertaken by the universities of York and Sheffield at Torksey, Lincolnshire, the location of the same army’s overwintering in the previous year, has identified evidence likely representative of the Viking occupation, though the majority of the discoveries is thus far confined to small finds recovered largely through metal-detecting activities. The evidence recovered to date from Torksey and the finds excavated at Woodstown in Ireland have revealed tentative evidence that occupation and fortification sites may be linked with local, regional, and national economies.
By Ben Raffield
Journal of the North Atlantic, No.20 (2013)
Abstract: This article addresses the depth of our knowledge regarding Viking fortifications in England, Scotland, and Wales, assessing perceptions of them as a monument type. This study includes the investigation of antiquarian influences upon the interpretation of these sites. It is suggested that archaeological knowledge of these monuments is largely fragmentary, and that in some cases, current understanding can in fact be based on interpretations dating back as far as the 17th or even 16th century. Additionally, it is proposed that Viking fortified sites do not exist with any form of homogeneity as a monument type. The research process of these investigations, findings, and two case studies are summarized. The article discusses the current state of knowledge regarding Viking fortifications and suggests how the study of them should proceed.
Throughout much of the period known as the “Viking Age”, Scandinavian groups arrived to raid and campaign on British soil. These forces required a safe place to overwinter or situate themselves while under threat from indigenous armies and populations. In England, they first “appear to have made use of natural islands, such as … Sheppey and Thanet” and continued to do so throughout the 9th, 10th, and 11th centuries. The 991 Battle of Maldon, Essex, supposedly involved the honorable but foolish act by Ealdorman Byrhtnoth of “[giving] too much room to those wretches” and allowing the opposing Viking army to cross from their base on Northey Island to engage in a “fair fight” on the Anglo-Saxon-held shore. Viking armies are also recorded as constructing purpose-built fortifications, with the locations of these occasionally being recorded with some accuracy. Despite this, there have been limited attempts to identify and excavate these sites, though in the past few decades some inroads have been made with the unexpected location of the Viking overwintering camp at Repton, Derbyshire, used during the period 873–874. Current work being undertaken by the universities of York and Sheffield at Torksey, Lincolnshire, the location of the same army’s overwintering in the previous year, has identified evidence likely representative of the Viking occupation, though the majority of the discoveries is thus far confined to small finds recovered largely through metal-detecting activities. The evidence recovered to date from Torksey and the finds excavated at Woodstown in Ireland have revealed tentative evidence that occupation and fortification sites may be linked with local, regional, and national economies.
Click here to read this article from Academia.edu
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