The beginning of the so-called "Viking Age" is generally accepted by most scholars to be the raid at Lindisfarne in 793. The culture had its heyday in the 9th and 10th centuries, with the Battle of Stamford Bridge (Vikings vs Anglo-Saxons) and then the Battle of Hastings (Anglo-Saxons vs Normans) in 1066 most usually considered to be the "end" of the age. However it is also worth noting that many consider the Battle of Largs (Scotland) in 1263 to be the ultimate final skirmish initiated by Vikings. It wasn't a big battle and had little historic impact, so it's pretty much been lost in the dust, so to speak. "Vikings" had a good run for about 250+ years. It is worth noting that the Normans who won at Hastings were in fact of Norse descent. "Norman" means North Man, the region of France from whence they came was settled by Norse. But getting back to the original posting... yes, I'm quite keen to see what gets dug up anywhere on Orkney that is Viking. If a person who was very interested in learning more about Vikings in Orkney wanted to plan a visit someday, where would the best 'must see' places be? Is there a museum or have all the best artifacts been carted off to London or someplace? Thanks! ::Linda:: -----Original Message----- On Behalf Of Royce Perry Remember, the time frame we are talking about only lasted from the mid 800's until the late 900s early 1000s. Little more than 150 years. R

All, Normandy is called that because in the year 911 (auspicious number?) the king of France, tired or Norse raids into the French interior with their shallow draft boats, told the Norse he wold give them a chunk of France if they wold stop raiding. He did, they did, and it is called Normandy after their Northern origins. As for digging up Norse artifacts, there is yet another question that must be asked and answered: suppose you do find things. Who owns them? What do you do with them? Are they all carted off to London or Edinburgh, can you sell them, can you keep them, or do they stay in Orkney somehow? Tuck On Jul 25, 2009, at 10:30 AM, Linda Rice wrote: > The beginning of the so-called "Viking Age" is generally accepted by > most > scholars to be the raid at Lindisfarne in 793. The culture had its > heyday in > the 9th and 10th centuries, with the Battle of Stamford Bridge > (Vikings vs > Anglo-Saxons) and then the Battle of Hastings (Anglo-Saxons vs > Normans) in > 1066 most usually considered to be the "end" of the age. However it > is also > worth noting that many consider the Battle of Largs (Scotland) in > 1263 to be > the ultimate final skirmish initiated by Vikings. It wasn't a big > battle and > had little historic impact, so it's pretty much been lost in the > dust, so to > speak. > > "Vikings" had a good run for about 250+ years. It is worth noting > that the > Normans who won at Hastings were in fact of Norse descent. "Norman" > means > North Man, the region of France from whence they came was settled by > Norse. > > But getting back to the original posting... yes, I'm quite keen to > see what > gets dug up anywhere on Orkney that is Viking. If a person who was > very > interested in learning more about Vikings in Orkney wanted to plan a > visit > someday, where would the best 'must see' places be? Is there a > museum or > have all the best artifacts been carted off to London or someplace? > > Thanks! > > ::Linda:: > > > > -----Original Message----- > On Behalf Of Royce Perry > > Remember, the > time frame we are talking about only lasted from the mid 800's until > the > late 900s early 1000s. Little more than 150 years. > R > > > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message

Tuck wrote: > As for digging up Norse artifacts, there is yet another question that > must be asked and answered: suppose you do find things. Who owns them? > What do you do with them? Are they all carted off to London or > Edinburgh, can you sell them, can you keep them, or do they stay in > Orkney somehow? > > > Tuck Anything that is found in the UK is the property of the Crown "and may be claimed as treasure trove". The Scottish version of the Treasure Trove site: http://www.treasuretrovescotland.co.uk/html/finders.asp In addition, of course, metal detecting, etc on significant archaeological sites is very unlikely to be allowed, but with the right contacts one might be able to find a landowner who would give permission to go over his land. One certainly couldn't go on to a Historic Scotland site like the Broch of Birsay with a metal detector. From the Treasure Trove website: "Under Section 42 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act (1979) it is a criminal offence to use a metal detector on a scheduled ancient monument or a monument in the guardianship of the State. It is also an offence to remove from such a monument any object of archaeological or historical interest found using a metal detector. If in any doubt as to whether a site is scheduled you should check with Historic Scotland or the landowner." Also: "*Illegal removal of finds from Scotland* Under the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003, it is a criminal offence to remove any coin or object from Scotland, see http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/20030027.htm" Metal detectorists are often unpopular with archaeologists because of the damage they can do to sites. Norman T.

Linda Rice wrote: > > But getting back to the original posting... yes, I'm quite keen to see what > gets dug up anywhere on Orkney that is Viking. If a person who was very > interested in learning more about Vikings in Orkney wanted to plan a visit > someday, where would the best 'must see' places be? Is there a museum or > have all the best artifacts been carted off to London or someplace? > > Thanks! > > ::Linda:: Tankerness House Museum in Kirkwall: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kirkwall/orkneymuseum/index.html The Brough of Birsay: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/westmainland/broughofbirsay/index.html St Magnus Cathedral, of course, and Orphir Church: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/westmainland/orphirchurch/index.html There must be a fair amount of Viking stuff at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, but I haven't been there for a very long time, and the British Museum in London is bound to have a lot too, from various parts of the UK. Norman T.

Thank you, Norman. I'll file this for future reference. This year's holidays are already booked up, but Orkney is definitely in the near-future plans. :) (Near meaning 2-3 years) Good museums often have their best holdings online these days, so it's not too hard to find out where things are. But that's no substitute for actually standing nose to glass in front of them! ::Linda:: On Behalf Of Norman Tulloch Tankerness House Museum in Kirkwall: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kirkwall/orkneymuseum/index.html The Brough of Birsay: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/westmainland/broughofbirsay/index.html St Magnus Cathedral, of course, and Orphir Church: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/westmainland/orphirchurch/index.html There must be a fair amount of Viking stuff at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, but I haven't been there for a very long time, and the British Museum in London is bound to have a lot too, from various parts of the UK. Norman T. _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message