Research Catalog

Title

A Norse settlement in the Outer Hebrides : excavations on mounds 2 and 2A, Bornais, South Uist / edited by Niall Sharples ; with contributions by J Best [and 22 others].

Publication

Oxford ; Haverown, PA : Oxbow Books, 2020.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Sharples, Niall M.
• Best, J.

Description

xxviii, 696 pages : illustrations (some color), maps (some color); 31 cm.

Summary

The settlement at Bornais in the Western Isles of Scotland is one of the largest rural settlements known from the Norse period in Britain. It spans the period from the fifth to the fifteenth century AD when the Atlantic seaboard was subject to drastic changes. The islands were systematically ravaged by Viking raiders and then colonised by Norse settlers. In the following centuries the islanders were central to the emergence of the Kingdom of Man and the Isles, played a crucial role in the development of the Lordship of the Isles and were finally assimilated into the Kingdom of Scotland.0This volume explores the stratigraphic sequence uncovered by the excavation of Bornais mounds 2 and 2A. The excavation of mound 2 revealed a sequence of high status buildings that span the Norse occupation of the settlement. One of these houses, constructed at the end of the eleventh century AD, was a well preserved bow-walled longhouse and the careful excavation and detailed recording of the floor layers has revealed a wealth of finds that provides invaluable insight into the activities taking place in this building. The final house in this sequence is very different in form and use, and clearly indicates the increasing Scottish influence on the region at the beginning of the thirteenth century.0The excavation of mound 2A provides an insight into the less prestigious areas of the settlement and contributes a significant amount of evidence on the settlement economy. The area was initially cultivated before it became a settlement local and throughout its life a focus on agricultural activities, such as grain drying and processing, appears to have been important. In the thirteenth century the mound was occupied by a craftsman who produced composite combs, gaming pieces and simple tools.

Series Statement

Cardiff studies in archaeology

Uniform Title

Cardiff studies in archaeology.

Subjects

• Civilization, Viking
• Excavations (Archaeology)
• Scotland > South Uist
• South Uist (Scotland) > Antiquities
• Civilization, Viking > Scotland > Bornais
• Bornais (Scotland) > Antiquities
• Antiquities
• Excavations (Archaeology) > Scotland > Bornais
• Scotland > Bornais

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Call Number

JFG 20-172

ISBN

• 9781789250466
• 1789250463
• 9781789250473 (canceled/invalid)

OCLC

1110445743

Title

A Norse settlement in the Outer Hebrides : excavations on mounds 2 and 2A, Bornais, South Uist / edited by Niall Sharples ; with contributions by J Best [and 22 others].

Publisher

Oxford ; Haverown, PA : Oxbow Books, 2020.

Type of Content

text

still image

cartographic image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Series

Cardiff studies in archaeology

Cardiff studies in archaeology.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Added Author

Sharples, Niall M., editor.

Best, J., contributor.

Research Call Number

JFG 20-172