The Norse and the Sea: The Maritime Cultural Landscape of Scandinavian Scotland project

The project leads Prof. Alexandra Sanmark, UHI and Dr Sven Kalmring, Centre for Baltic and Scandinavian Archaeology, Schleswig, Germany with participants Dr Andrew Jennings, UHI and Dr Dennis Wilken, University of Kiel, Germany will investigate the maritime cultural landscape in Scandinavian Scotland (c. AD 790-1350) and address the overarching questions of connectivity and communication in Norse Scotland. 

Scotland's Norse landing places

The main focus will be placed on Norse harbours and landing places in the west of Scotland, which will be identified and examined through geophysical survey and targeted excavation. Project participants will also examine place-names, written sources and oral traditions to provide insight into maritime travel and harbours in Scandinavian Scotland and the wider North Atlantic . 

Funding for the project comes from the UK-German Funding Initiative in the Humanities from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the German Research Council (DFG). 

Report courtesy University of the Highlands & Islands. Photo by Ross Sneddon on Unsplash