www.nordicresearchnetwork.co.uk

Bridges Between: Norse and Insular Worlds AD 500-1500

May 4th 2016

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Table of Contents

Conference Committee ................................ ..............2

About the NRN ................................................................ 3

Location................................................................ ............. 4

Schedule ................................ ........................................... 7

Session Overview ......................................................... 8

List of Speakers .............................................................. 9

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Conference Committee

Patrick C. Jolicoeur, PhD Candidate, Department of Archaeology, University of Glasgow

Tom Davis, PhD Candidate, Department of Archaeology, University of Glasgow

Sofia Evemalm-Kalamakis, PhD Candidate, Department of Celtic and Gaelic Studies, University of Glasgow

Alasdair Whyte, PhD Candidate, Department of Celtic and Gaelic Studies, University of Glasgow

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About the NRN

The Nordic Research Network (NRN) is a network of postgraduate students and early-career

researchers based in the British Isles who are conducting Nordic research. Participation in the

network is not limited to those working within departments or centres of Scandinavian and

Nordic Studies, and the network particularly seeks to encourage Nordic research in all areas

across the humanities and social sciences.

The Nordic Research Network was originally established in 2010 with funding from the AHRC’s

Student-led Initiatives Scheme. The grant was used to host the first symposium at UCL. The

network has grown and evolved on each subsequent occasion following its inaugural meeting.

Conferences have been held approximately every 18 months, alternating between UCL and the

University of Edinburgh. This conference is the first time NRN has been hosted by another

institution, while future NRN meetings are currently being planned at the Institute of Modern

Languages Research in London (November) and at the University of Aberdeen (August 2017).

About the logo

Nordic Research Network’s beautiful logo was designed by graphic designer Giorgia Ghergo.

She took her inspiration for the logo from the atmospheric landscapes of the Nordic region

idealised in large expanses of snow, pristine northern forests, and the marvellous light of the

aurora borealis. All of these concepts are presented in geometric and pure forms that

accompany the viewer as they explore the depths of the Nordic universe.

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Location

Registration will be in the foyer.

The keynote and all sessions will be in the Lecture Theatre (Room 109), Gregory Building.

The coffee breaks and lunch will be in the Conference Room (Room 320) in the Gregory Building.

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Schedule

8:00-8:45 – Registration

8:45-9:00 – Opening Remarks

9:00-10:00 – Keynote (Dr. Steve Ashby)

10:00-11:00 – Session 1 : Humans and Places

11:00-11:30 – Coffee Break

11:30-12:30 – Session 2: Humans and Power

12:30-1:30 – Lunch

1 :30-3:30 – Session 3: Humans and Things

3:30-4:00 – Coffee Break

4:00-5:00 – Session 4: Humans and Environment

5:00-5:30 – Wind Up

6:00 – Conference Dinner

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Session Overview

Keynote Dr. Steve Ashby Bridging the Great Divide: between science and theory in

the medieval north Session 1 : Humans and Places (10:00-11 :00) Ryan Foster Thwaite names in Cumbria: Evidence of a Viking landnám

or not?

William Wyeth A bridge to nowhere? Accepting and rejecting the Norse past of the Castle of Old Wick, Caithness

Session 2: Humans and Power (11 :30-12:30)

Ben Allport From Overlords to ‘Foolish King’s Thegns’; Insular Influences on Norwegian Kingship Ideology in the Late Ninth and Early Tenth Centuries

Caitlin Ellis Go west: Contextualising the naval expeditions of Norwegian royals into the Insular world, 1013–1103

Session 3: Humans and Things (1 :30-3:30)

Sara Manavian A Re-evaluation of Insular Metalwork from Pagan-Norse Graves in Scotland and Man

Catherine Estelle Johnson Expressions of Identity in Viking-Age Finger-Rings and Inscribed Portabilia in Britain and Ireland

Frida Espolin Norstein Remembering Women: Female Burial in the Viking Diaspora

Heidi Stoner Warriors, Sculptors, Kings and Saints: Ecclesiastic Sculpture in the Nordic influenced Early Medieval Insular World

Session 4: Humans and Environment (4:00-5:00)

Daniel Haycraft Did Regional Weakness Caused by Natural Disasters within the Carolingian Empire Factor into Viking Strategies to Raid and Eventually Settle into the Carolingian Empire?

Karyn Bellamy-Dagneau The Sacred Soundscape of Falconry

Harriet Jean Evans Living landscapes: the connection of environment and literature in medieval Iceland and the utilisation of animal-places

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List of Speakers Ben Allport (University of Cambridge) Paper Title: From Overlords to ‘Foolish King’s Thegns’; Insular Influences on Norwegian Kingship Ideology in the Late Ninth and Early Tenth Centuries Abstract: The influence of ‘English’ (read West Saxon) models for governance and kingship on the state formation of Norway from the tenth century onwards has long been acknowledged. There is an established tendency in Norwegian scholarship to attribute the impetus for the growing concept of a ‘king of Norway’ to the Athelstan of Wessex’s fosterage of Haraldr hárfagri’s son Hákon góði in the 920s-30s. This approach overlooks two factors: firstly, that concepts of overkingship in Norway seem to predate this connection; secondly, that there was extensive contact between Norway and the British Isles in the late ninth century, when (according to saga literature) the first steps towards the unification of Norway were taken. This paper will combine contemporary evidence for kingship and overkingship ideology in late ninth-century Britain and Ireland with recent theories of early state formation in Norway to draw out potential channels of influence. Moving beyond the traditional focus on West Saxon connections, this talk will focus on polities with which the Vikings are likely to have had more intimate contact; it will also consider the implications of the Vikings’ relationships with kings whose positions were, to a debateable degree, owed to the invaders, such as Ceolwulf of Mercia. Bio: Ben is a second-year PhD student in the Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic department in Cambridge studying regional aspects of the process of state formation in tenth- and eleventh-century Norway. In 2014 he completed a two-year Nordic Master’s degree in Viking and Medieval Norse from the universities of Iceland and Oslo.

Karyn Bellamy-Dagneau (University of Iceland) Paper Title: The Sacred Soundscape of Falconry Abstract: The art of falconry appeared in Europe in the course of 400-700AD from a Near, Middle or Far Eastern origin, hereby creating a bridge between all the practicing cultural elites of the Eurasian continent, including Scandinavia. Archaeology suggests that it reached Mid-eastern Sweden sometime during the 6th century from the East. As this cultural practice transferred into pre-Christian Scandinavia it may have become imbued with spiritual significance unique to the

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North. This lecture will attempt to show how falconry tied intricate bonds between the Norse falconers and their natural environment. It will first be explained briefly the specificity of the practice in the North in comparison with the rest of feudal Christian Europe. It will then be proposed an interpretation of the finds of small copper-alloy bells from Birka (Sweden) and Kaupang (Norway). This interpretation will be informed by a cultural comparison with Finnish bells from the same time period and also by the Norse cosmology. Ultimately, this lecture seeks to shed light on the apotropaic properties of the bells in falconry, but this bridge between disciplines may also afford us a glimpse at the mindscape of the Norse falconers as they step into the wild to hunt, and perhaps commune with Nature. Bio: French Canadian Karyn Bellamy-Dagneau has completed her Masters studies first class with distinction at the University of Iceland in the program of Viking and Medieval Norse Studies. As a younger scholar she specializes on the subject of falconry in pre-Christian Scandinavia.

Caitlin Ellis (University of Cambridge) Paper Title: Go west: Contextualising the naval expeditions of Norwegian royals into the Insular world, 1013–1103 Abstract: The naval expeditions of Scandinavian royals are one of the most explicit forms of contact between the Norse and the Insular worlds. There were presumably many other naval expeditions––and certainly trading traffic back and forth––but those involving royalty and important figures are better recorded in the surviving sources. I will be focussing on the Norwegian examples but their Danish counterparts will also be brought in for context and comparison, particularly the Danish takeover of England (1013–16). Firstly, I shall explore the expedition led by Magnus Haraldsson, the son of the Norwegian king, in 1058. In addition to Norway, the events of 1058 brought together Gwynedd in north Wales, Anglo-Saxon England, the Scottish Isles and the Hiberno-Norse towns. Secondly, I shall turn to Harald Hardrada’s attempted conquest of England in 1066. Although usually only viewed as a precursor to William the Conqueror’s subsequent successful Norman takeover, it is necessary to consider the motivations and background for this expedition in its own right. Finally, I shall consider the dramatic expeditions of Magnus Barelegs, which were focused on the Scottish Isles and the Irish Sea region, capturing the literary imagination of many medieval authors. Bio: Caitlin is a PhD student in the department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, University of Cambridge, working on a comparison Orkney and Dublin’s ties to Scandinavia proper. She also completed a BA and MPhil––on the topic of contact between mainland Pictland and Scandinavia––in the same department.

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Harriet Jean Evans (University of York)

Paper Title: Living landscapes: the connection of environment and literature in medieval Iceland and the utilisation of animal-places Abstract: This paper focusses on the presence of animal-spaces in narratives surrounding the settlement of Iceland. In this world, domestic animals played a vitally important role in everyday life, and the strong links between Icelanders, their animals, and the social and cultural landscape are reflected in the animal-human relations presented in the literature of the period. Looking at later medieval texts such as Landnámabók and selected Íslendingasögur, we see a portrayal of the colonisation of Iceland that in many ways revolves around the spaces associated with domestic animals. I suggest that the later texts fashion the colonisation of Iceland around animal-spaces. While in literary studies, we tend to focus on the social and political context of texts, this is often divorced from environmental and climatic conditions: however, in Iceland, this distinction is unhelpful and perhaps even damaging. By looking at these texts as permeable artefacts, and discussing specific episodes in relation to what might be known about the physical context of the period, this paper intends to discuss the potential impact everyday interaction with the environment might have had on the production of a medieval text, and the ideas negotiated within. Bio: I am a PhD candidate at the University of York. My interdisciplinary research on animal-human relations in medieval Iceland seeks to find ways to combine literary and archaeological studies with anthropological and geographical approaches to the past. I also received my MA in Medieval Studies from York in 2013.

Ryan Foster (University of Edinburgh) Paper Title: Thwaite names in Cumbria: Evidence of a Viking landnám or not? Abstract: The Old Norse place-name element –þveit is the root of English–thwaite, Norwegian –tveit, and Danish –tved and came to refer to a forest clearing or meadow (Lindkvist 1912, Markey 1978). The use of thwaite-names is seen as evidence of a secondary settlement (Fellows-Jenson 2000, p143), possibly as part of a multiple estate which may have included skali, or sætr and ærgi farms (Jones 1961, Winchester 1985). Multiple estates saw a network of farms connected and subsidiary to a primary settlement, often found on the best agricultural land. Secondary settlements would fulfil specific agricultural roles such as summer sheep and cattle shielings on high ground, hay making on meadows and possibly dairy shielings (Øye 2003, 2004, Lucas 2008).

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Thomas Markey (1978) and Gillian Fellows-Jenson (1996) support the view that Scandinavian, especially Norwegian; tveit-names are linked to the coining of English –thwaite-names. To test this hypothesis I will compare the altitude, aspect, drift geology and general location of –thveit in Norway and Cumbria to discover any links between the two areas. Any links would therefore suggest that the coining of –thveitfollowed a similar naming procedure and would therefore indicate that Lake District –thwaite sites were evidence of a Scandinavian landnam. Bio: Ryan Foster is a 3rd year PhD candidate in Scandinavian Studies at the University of Edinburgh. His research examines place name elements during the Viking Age in a highly interdisciplinary study. Ryan holds a degree in History and Geography from Nottingham Trent, a PGCE in Geography from the University of Nottingham, and an MA in Lake District Studies from Lancaster University. He previously worked as a Geography teacher.

Daniel Haycraft (University of Edinburgh) Paper Title: Did Regional Weakness Caused by Natural Disasters within the Carolingian Empire Factor into Viking Strategies to Raid and Eventually Settle into the Carolingian Empire? Abstract: In the ninth century Vikings began assaulting the fragmenting Carolingian Empire and winning positions on the Loire and Seine. But why did the Vikings choose to raid the places they did? One answer may lie in The Royal Frankish Annals, The Annals of St Bertin, The Annals of Fulda and The Annals of Xanten, which suggest a significant factor may have been regional “natural disasters,” events that seriously disrupt a society, cause widespread losses, and exceed the society’s ability to cope. Correlating Viking attacks and natural disasters recorded in these annals suggests that Vikings may have chosen to attack places already weakened by disaster.

Bio: Daniel Haycraft is a PhD candidate in Medieval Studies at the University of Edinburgh researching the impact of natural disasters upon the Carolingian Empire. His MSC (University of Edinburgh) examined the civil war that created Normandy. He earned his BA from Washington and Lee University and MLA from Tulane University.

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Catherine Estelle Johnson (University of Glasgow) Paper Title: Expressions of Identity Via Portable Inscribed Objects in Early Medieval Britain and Ireland, with a focus on Late Anglo-Saxon and Viking Age Finger-Rings Abstract: This paper will place Late Anglo-Saxon and Viking Age finger-rings in the wider context of portable inscribed objects from Britain and Ireland, dating from AD c. 500-1100. Combining two individual studies, this paper will argue that the stylistic and contextual aspects of finger-rings represent the development of cultural diversity also recognized in the corpus of portable items bearing inscriptions. Scandinavian inspiration can primarily be seen in the basic form and make of finger-rings (Bezel and hoop shape, metal composition), surface decoration such as punch-work, and through the distribution patterns of find-spots. Inscriptions on finger-rings are entirely Anglo-Saxon, whilst Viking inscriptions are found on all other portable objects as runes in Old Norse. Anglo-Saxon inscriptions often favor the object as a possession and a conscious entity, whilst Viking inscriptions tend to focus on the runes themselves and the act of writing. Furthermore, many of the Scandinavian inscriptions are deemed secondary graffiti, exemplified by scratched runes on cooked bone, suggesting differing perspectives of material ownership. Portable inscribed objects can be used to illustrate cultural interaction and circulation. Often an object might belong stylistically to one culture, be inscribed in the language and/or alphabet of another, and include a personal name from a third. Observation of portable inscribed objects raises questions about cultural perceptions of identity and material image, in particular of what it means to be Anglo-Saxon or Scandinavian in the medieval world. Bio: Catherine hails from California, and is a current PhD candidate at the University of Glasgow studying portable inscribed objects. Previously she has received an MA in artefact studies from UCL studying Anglo-Saxon and Viking-Age finger-rings, and a BA in art history from San Diego State University. She has a penchant for burgers, naps, and green tea.

Sara Manavian (University of Glasgow) Paper Title: A Re-evaluation of Insular Metalwork from Pagan-Norse Graves in Scotland and Man Abstract: This research is an attempt to challenge the long-held view that the heavy concentration of Insular metalwork found on the west coast of Norway represents the spoils of a violent Viking expansion into Britain. Focusing on Viking graves in Scotland and the Isle of Man, this paper demonstrates that Insular metalwork was frequently adopted as part of the Scandinavian dress both in Norway and the British Isles. This indicates a correlation between Scandinavian social status and the public display of Insular goods. Both cultures likely operated on some form of gift

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exchange, either for the accumulation of prestige or to form bonds of reciprocity, and it is possible that the exchange of Insular ornament between British and Scandinavian elite could have formed part of this tradition. There is also burial evidence to suggest that during this time Norwegian women experienced increased status throughout the agricultural region of Sogn og Fjordane as well as in northern Scotland, an area which shows similar evidence for agricultural activity. It is in these female graves that the highest concentration of Insular metalwork is found, suggesting that they participated in these gift exchange networks and a link between agriculture and prestige. This removes the necessity of considering these objects ‘loot’ and presents the opportunity to re-assess the nature of Scandinavian contact with the Insular world. Bio: Sara Manavian is a recent graduate of the Celtic & Viking Archaeology MLitt programme at the University of Glasgow. She also holds an MSc in Museum Studies and a BA in British History. Her research interests include Viking Diaspora theory, Viking Age gender politics, and the archaeology of Pagan-Norse graves.

Frida Espolin Norstein (University of Gothenburg)

Paper Title: Remembering Women: Female burial in the Viking diaspora Abstract: The furnished Scandinavian burials of the North Atlantic are clearly expressing some shared ideas, perhaps even a shared cultural memory which could function as a uniting factor in the Viking diaspora. Despite the evident similarities, however, these rites are not performed in exactly the same way and with the same material culture in the different areas, and a focus on these variations can reveal more about how local circumstances and the native inhabitants affect how Scandinavian overseas identities are constructed and expressed through mortuary rituals. My focus is mainly on female burials from the British Isles and Iceland, as we must assume women had an important role as maintainers of culture in a colonial situation. Studying how women are remembered through funerary rituals can naturally cast light on women’s experiences, but it will also highlight differences between the various Norse settlements and perhaps go some way to explain them. I intend to present some preliminary results which will hopefully draw focus to the complex relationships between the various Norse settlements and also between the Norse and the native populations. Bio: I finished my BA in history and archaeology at the University of York in 2012, and my MA in Archaeology at the University of Oslo in 2014. I worked two seasons as a field archaeologist, before starting my PhD in Archaeology at the University of Gothenburg in September 2015.

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Heidi Stoner (University of York) Paper Title: Warriors, Sculptors, Kings and Saints: Ecclesiastic Sculpture in the Nordic influenced Early Medieval Insular World Abstract: The connections and interactions across the insular world have long been considered as a series of incursions, with Nordic influences being seen as purely an influx of influences. The notion of complex cultural connections that develop and change can be seen in the manner in which sculpted material is presented and considered in the wider Insular world. The interpretation of monumental sculpture of the early medieval Insular world has often sought to identify its scenes as either ‘biblical’ or ‘secular’ imagery which is separate to, and often negates the complex exegetical readings of these monuments. This paper will propose new ways of understanding and contextualising sculpted materials and monuments in an ecclesiastic setting throughout the insular world by examining the traditions of sculpture from which these sculpted media develops. Further it will examine how ‘secular’ scenes and references might allude to various concepts foreshadowing the role of humanity within a Christian world-view. Moreover, by looking at thresholds that are both real and imagined, and the sense of teleological movement that many of these monuments convey, it will be argued that Nordic influence on the Insular church present clear and complex interpretations of early Christianity. Bio: Heidi Stoner will be awarded her PhD in History of Art supervised by Dr Jane Hawkes and examined by Professor Howard Williams in July 2016. She has published on various topics surrounding her research interests, most recently in The Art, Literature and Material Culture of the Medieval World (Four Courts, 2015). Her primary research interest included Early Medieval Insular Sculpture, the convergence of text and material culture, and iconography.

William Wyeth (University of Stirling) Paper Title: A bridge to nowhere? Accepting and rejecting the Norse past of the Castle of Old Wick, Caithness Abstract: The Castle of Old Wick, a short drive south from the burgh of Wick in Caithness, may represent one of the oldest stone castles in modern Scotland. Its earliest phase has been dated by analogy with an architecturally similar Orcadian site to the late 12th-early 13th century. It has also been implicitly connected with the site called Vík which is discussed in passing in the Orkney Saga. There are several problems with this connection, the most obvious of which is that the Castle of Old Wick is located on a sea-bound promontory with cliffs dropping 100ft on three sides, where Vík appears from the Saga to be immediately accessible to ships. By unpacking what the Saga

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suggests about Vík, this paper aims to present several problems with the assumption of Castle of Old Wick’s Norse past. It moves to suggest ideas for the location, or locations, of Vík. It concludes the process of deconstructing the idea of Castle of Old Wick by reflecting on the drive to ‘know’ the location and details of Vík. Bio: Will Wyeth is a third year PhD student whose thesis examines early stone castles in Scotland. Originally from London, he studied late antique Roman history in Northern Ireland, Turkey and England before moving to Scotland for a heritage training scheme and thereafter fell for the castles. Apart from Norse castles, he is interested in motte earthworks and medieval timber towers.