The Scandinavian Settlement of Northern Shetland: Northmavine, Yell, Unst, and Fetlar Dr Juha Marttila, University of Glasgow, Supervisor Dr Colleen Batey ABSTRACT
STEATITE • Clear evidence of utilisation of local resources E.g. quarries at Fethaland, Clibberwick and Cleber Geos • Some evidence of control At Catpund, Cunningsburgh the vessels were of standard form and appears to be the only source where vessels were exported from Shetland Also the place-name Cunningburgh derives from the Old Norse Konungsborg, a king’s fort
This multidisciplinary research investigated all aspects of Scandinavian settlement in Northmavine, Yell, Unst, and Fetlar. It included the extent and nature of the occupation, the reasons for the settlement pattern, whether the area functioned as a single sea-based unit or several island/land-based units, the historical, linguistic and place-name evidence, the economy and resources, the transition periods between the late Iron Age and the Viking Age and the Viking Age and the late Norse period, and the ecclesiastical evidence and pagan graves. To achieve the agenda, all known evidence of the Norse settlement was assessed, after which a programme of intensive fieldwork was carried out. It consisted of the re-assessment of known sites and of an attempt to discover hitherto unknown sites dating from the Viking Age and the late Norse period. The fieldwork resulted in the discovery of several hitherto unknown sites.
SETTLEMENTS • Settlement pattern largely dictated by the landscape • Substantial areas could not be settled due to harsh environment • Concentrations in the areas of arable land • Evidence of primary settlement very limited
A map of Shetland (after Crawford & Ballin Smith 1999: 2)
Unst • 44 possible settlements were identified • Lund was possibly a primary settlement and further settlements developed in the surrounding area • Another concentration around Sand Wick Yell • 11 possible settlements identified • Harsher landscape Fetlar • Three possible settlements identified
Structure I at Hamar from south (taken by the author)
Northmavine • 12 possible settlements identified • Close to the sea, but due to high sea cliffs not all of them had access to the sea. • Much of the settlement is in sheltered voes which is closely reflected in the modern settlement • Possible concentration around Ness of Hillswick SETTLEMENT SPECIALISATION • Research revealed evidence of specialisation • Sites such as Snabrough too far from the sea in order to carry out fishing on a daily basis • Such sites could have specialised in for example sheep husbandry and steatite production • Strong evidence from place-names: 22 farm-names within the research area indicated a particular type of agricultural activity or production For example Niddister derives from Old Norse naut setr cattle farm
SITES WITH A RELIGIOUS CHARACTER • 16 possible pagan graves Eight in Unst Three in Fetlar and Yell Two in Northmavine Difficult to confirm their nature without excavations • 87 chapels or ecclesiastical sites 31 in Yell 25 in Unst 19 in Fetlar 12 Northmavine Commonly identified by a religious place-names such as Kirk Often no archaeological remains survive Distribution mirrors settlement distribution • Often on arable land and around sheltered voes • Concentrations which mirror the settlement concentrations • Private chapels of chieftains SEA OR LAND BASED SETTLEMENT UNITS • Sea crucial for the settlement • Used for communication on islands without roads • Also chapels on very small islands such as Uyea, Hascosay and Linga • Numerous remains of boat noosts • Important source of food. • Inland sites dependence on sea possibly declined as they specialised on other land based production
A large steatite boss at Cleber Geo (taken by the author)
A Reconstruction of a chapel in Bratthalið, Greenland (taken by the author)
ECONOMY • Initially subsistence based • Fishing, animal husbandry, steatite production • Developed into partial market economy with farms specialising in certain production and trading the surplus • Evidence of market economy from place-names REFERENCES
Shetland seascape at Northmavine (taken by the author)
Crawford, B. E. & Ballin Smith, B. 1999. The Biggings, Papa Stour, Shetland. The History and Excavation of a Royal Norwegian Farm. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi Stewart, J. 1987. Shetland Place-Names. Lerwick: Shetland Library and Museum A clinker built boat which design is derived from Norse boats (taken by the author)
Cant, R. G. 1975. Medieval Churches and Chapels of Shetland. Lerwick: Shetland Archaeological and Historical Society. Small, A. 1966. Excavations at Underhoull, Unst, Shetland. Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. 98 (196466). 225-248.
Juha.marttila@gmail.com