DOCSLIB.ORG

Notes Respecting the Life of Swein Aslief, an Orkney Viking, of the Twelfth Century, Illustrating the Annals of That Period

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Notes Respecting the Life of Swein Aslief, an Orkney Viking, of the Twelfth Century, Illustrating the Annals of That Period III. NOTES RESPECTING THE LIFE OF SWEIN ASLIEF, AN ORKNEY VIKING, OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY, ILLUSTRATING THE ANNALS OF THAT PERIOD. COLLECTED FROM THE EARLY NORWEGIAN SAGES. BY W. H. FOTHERINGHAME, ESQ., F.S.A., SCOT. KIRKWALI,. SWEIN or SVBIN ASLIEF, one of the most remarkable of the Orkney Scandi- navian warriors, lived in the middle of the 12th century, during the govern- ments of the Orkney Earls, Paul Haconson ; Erlend Haroldson; Ronald, the nephew of St Magnus, himself enrolled among the saints ; and Harold, son of Maddan, Ear f Atholeo l nephed an ,a prominen s f wEaro wa le h Paul t d an ; actor in all the transactions that took place in the north and west during his busy life. His father, Olaf Rolfson, dwelt at Gairsay; but he had another house at Dungalsby, in Caithness, where he governed the country under Earl Pauls motherHi . , Aslief distinguishes wa noblr , he racr d e he dispoe an r dfo - sitio frod n an m; her, afte s fathere deathi th r f ho , Swein was named Swein Aslief. The house at Dungalsby was surprised and .burnt by Aulver Rosta, Olad an f himself, wit s soldieryhhi , consume . it Swein d i s absenwa n t when this took place; but, on his return, seeing what had happened, immediately took boat to the Island of Swannay, in the Pentland Firth, and thence was conveyed s friendshi f Grimy o b Knarstone o ,t on , Scapan mainlane i , th n o , Orkneyf do . 1 Wilson's Annals, p. 325. " Ibid . 288.p , part ii. alsprevioue ,e chapoth Se . .v s chapter. ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND. 279 Having paid Grim with a gold ring for the finger, he went to Earl Paul, who was holdin Yule gth e s feastpalachi t n Orfera si e . Earl Paul receivem hi d righs kindlyhi t tplace d a feaste hanan th ,m t ddhi ,a whic e gives th wa hn ni great hall. Among the guests was Swein Briostreip, who had had disputes both with Olaf the father and Swein Aslief. During the feast, horns were quaffed to the memory of gods and heroes, with the prologue of speeches before drinking; and amidst the drunken conviviality were some rudeness and quarrel- ling, and Swein Briostreip was overheard muttering that a Swein would kill a Swein. This was told Swein Aslief, with a caution that an evil spirit spoke out of Swein Briostreip's mouth; and it is said of Swein Briostreip that he was addicted to magic, and he had spent the whole of the preceding night (it was Christmas eve) withou te gravee deasleeth th consulo t t df pa o s t themd an , obtain their responses. Swein Aslief, thus cautioned, slew Briostreip as the company were going prayers chapey froe fease sa th m e immeth o o H t t l . - diately fled acros countre sth y nort Damsayho t Blainy b e governod th , an ; f ro the castle there, was sent to Bishop William, in Egilsay, who had him con- veyed to Holbod, in the island of Tiree, in the Hebrides, where he passed the winter, highly honoured by the inhabitants. (Vide note at end.) In the beginning of spring Swein Aslief returned from the Western Isles, and visiting at Athole, Earl Maddan and his Countess Margaret, daughter of Earl Hacon, formed plots with them which were followed by the kidnapping of Earl Paul, in Rousay. (1137.) The Earl was surprised while hunting otters in the cave t Skebro-headsa islane th f Rousayn do i , , hurrie ship-boardn do card an ,- ried away by Swein Aslief and a band of followers. Landed first at a port of Scotland, named Tickialslaack Breidafiordn i , e Murrath r o ,y Firth e Earth , l was sent overland to Athole, after which nothing certain is known of him. Kalr, or Ronald, the nephew of St Magnus, after failing in a first attempt, secona w no d d timha e invaded Orkney. Sigur Westnessf do , missing Earl Paul, imputed his loss to Earl Ronald ; but some time afterwards, nine armed whof o menknow s e Sweine mb wa on , o nt , came from Scap a meetin o t a t ga Kirkwall, when Swein told the Bishop the fate of Earl Paul, and that it was vain loo o himr t kfo , becaus mutilates wa e edismemberedd h dan . (1139. yearo )Tw s afterwards Earl Ronald solw e Islandsno ,e Earth givinf s lo wa ,s Christma ghi s feast at the house of Knarston, when the Bishop of Athole came to him on an em- bassy from Earl Maddas Counteshi d nan s Margaret, daughte Earf ro l Hacon, claiming Earl Paul's hal Orknef fo their Haroldn yfo rso , Paul's nephew boy,a . meetinA thes toogd nwa an fixek , placdon Caithnesn ei nexe sth t Lent, whena divisio islande th mades f n o arrangement d swa an , s formemanagemene th r dfo t of affairs during Harold's minority. Swein Aslie mentiones fi joinins da g with 280 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY OP the Bishop in forwarding the arrangement; and his brother-in-law, Thorbiorn Klerkr clerke appointes th r wa ,o , Eary b d l Ronal tako t d e car f Harold'o e s education. Swein is said now to have got possession of all the lands possessed by his father Olaf, and brother "Valthiofr, drowned immediately after Olaf's murder livee H grean di . t pomp maintained an , larga d e retinue, havina g guard of armed men continually about him. His sagacity was rare, and he ha surprisinda g tur conjecturinn i vera d gy ha eventscrue e h t l disposition,bu . (1139.) About this time he attacked his father's murderers, Aulver Rosta and Frakaurk, in Sutherland, and burnt their house, with Frakaurk in it. Aulver Rosta escape Westere th meane o dt th hear s n I - morwa o Isles dn . d eof an , time, a messenger from Holbod, in the Western Isles, who had received Swein when he fled from Orkney after the slaughter of Swein Briostreip, applied for his aid in recovering lands in Cornwall taken from him. (1140-1.) Swein joined Holbod at the Isle of Man ; and, after a summer spent in piracy on the shores of Cornwall, and other places, destroying all before them,—burning, it is said, six villages in Cornwall one morning before breakfast—they returned in harvest to the Isle of Man, where Swein married Ingerid, the widow of a nobleman in Isle f Manth eo ricd an ,h bot landn h i money d san passed an ,e winte dth n i r that island. Next sprin summed gan r Swein continue piracs dhi Cornwalln yi , the Scilly Islands, and coast of Ireland, and would appear then to have re turned home differencA . e arose Thorbiorbetweed an m nhi n Klerkr, (1141- 11492o t , Orkneyinga Saga) accounn slaughteo ,e th f o t Thorbiory rb associateo tw f no f so burninSweie th n ni Frakaurkf g o s Thorbiorn' wa o wh , s grandmother. Earl Ronald reconciled them. Next appear n expeditioa s f Sweino n againss hi t former friend Holbod, in the Western Isles. Holbod fled; but the expedition made great booty, and returned to Caithness. In the division of the spoil, Swein acted unfairly, and thence incurred the enmity of Thorbiorn Klerkr, who shortly after repudiated his wife Ingerid, the sister of Swein Aslief. Swein had leffortrese th t f Dungalsbo s y unde e commanth r followera f do , Margad Grim- son. Margad oppresse people dth e heavily, and, goin occa e o Wicgt on -n ko sion, murdered house n Roalow f s Wicd,o hi wit n ki h some others, after which he returne Dungalsby.o dt . Swein collecte bandda , seize castle dth f Freseo - wick, or Lambaburgh, and, having provisioned, resolved to defend it. He was immediately besieged by Earl Ronald, prompted by the son of the slain Thorbiory Roald,b d an n Klerk othersd ran accoun n e unfaio , th f o rt division spoie oth f l Westere taketh n ni n Isles. Swei Margad an n t themselvedle s down fro castle mbasee th th e t ,walla swaa se s malone th ashoreclife go th t f , an escapedo ds . Swein obtaine dboaa a tow t a t n called Deveron,e goeth o t s Isl f Mayo e , whic plunderse hh ; thence proceedin Edinburgho gt kindls i e h , y ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND. 281 received there "by King David, with whom he leaves Margad, and, returning to Orkney, he is restored to his family and possessions. Swein having escaped, Earl Ronald disdained to take revenge on the besieged left in the castle, and on their surrender set them at liberty. At this time (1152 to 1153) Earl Ronald with Bishop William went to Jeru- salem. In his absence Eysten, king of Norway, came to Orkney on an expe- ditioease th t o nt coas f Scotlano t Englandd dan e lasth t e ,mad b sai y o dt b e the Scandinavians against England, and to have taken place in 1153, in the reign of King Stephen. Erlend, the son of Harold the orator, had got a grant from Malcolm, kin Scotlandf go e hal th Caithnessf fo f o , , wit title hEarlf th eo , and now obtained from Eysteen, king of Norway, the half of Orkney which be- longed to Earl Ronald, absent on his journey to the Holy Land.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Register of Sea Fishing Boats
    Register of Sea Fishing Boats (Orkney Archives CE55/11) Vessel name and/or number Port Registry Date Name of owner Name of Master/Skipper Archive Ref Page 0 K196 Kirkwall 08/10/1888 George Grey George Gray CE55/11/6 46 K275 South Ronaldsay 28/05/1913 John Cursator, George John Cursator CE55/11/9 236 W. Cursator and James Robertson K422 Kirkwall 14/08/1890 James Scott James Scott CE55/11/6 130 K426 Kirkwall 24/09/1890 James Banks Bruce James B. Bruce CE55/11/7 2 ? 181 Papa Westray 18/12/1934 John Bursiter John Bursiter CE55/11/17 101 ? 331 Kirkwall 24/11/1933 John Harcus John Harcus CE55/11/17 81 ? 88 Westray 23/05/1934 James and George George Rendall CE55/11/17 89 Rendall Aberdeen K486 Kirkwall 21/09/1892 Robert Garden John Arcus CE55/11/7 49 Acorn K556 Kirkwall 28/04/1897 George Robertson Eric Sutherland CE55/11/7 113 Active K168 Kirkwall 04/07/1907 G. R. C. Russell David Finlayson CE55/11/9 119 Active K231 St Margaret's Hope 29/06/1874 John Oman & others John Oman CE55/11/5 30 Activer K398 Kirkwall 04/06/1890 William Mowat William Mowat CE55/11/6 119 ADA 135 Sandy 27/09/1927 James W. Sinclair James W. Sinclair CE55/11/16 167 Admiral K144 Kirkwall 08/02/1900 Benjamin Thomson and Benjamin Thomson CE55/11/8 145 James Simpson Adventine 174 kirkwall 24/05/1928 Daniel Johnston Daniel Johnston CE55/11/17 2 Adventure 174 Kirkwall 02/12/1929 George Smith George Smith CE55/11/17 25 Adventure K17 Holm 23/02/1887 David Woldradge David Woldradge CE55/11/5 3 Adventure K181 Kirkwall 21/02/1900 William Skea William Skea CE55/11/8 159 Adventure K262 Kirkwall 21/05/1889 Thomas Hewison Thomas Hewison CE55/11/6 79 22 October 2011 Page 1 of 84 Vessel name and/or number Port Registry Date Name of owner Name of Master/Skipper Archive Ref Page Adventure K527 Tankerness 07/06/1904 John Voy John Voy CE55/11/9 42 Afram K682 North Ronaldsay 06/06/1947 Hugh Thomson H.
    [Show full text]
  • The Arms of the Scottish Bishoprics
    UC-NRLF B 2 7=13 fi57 BERKELEY LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORN'A \o Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/armsofscottishbiOOIyonrich /be R K E L E Y LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORN'A h THE ARMS OF THE SCOTTISH BISHOPRICS. THE ARMS OF THE SCOTTISH BISHOPRICS BY Rev. W. T. LYON. M.A.. F.S.A. (Scot] WITH A FOREWORD BY The Most Revd. W. J. F. ROBBERDS, D.D.. Bishop of Brechin, and Primus of the Episcopal Church in Scotland. ILLUSTRATED BY A. C. CROLL MURRAY. Selkirk : The Scottish Chronicle" Offices. 1917. Co — V. PREFACE. The following chapters appeared in the pages of " The Scottish Chronicle " in 1915 and 1916, and it is owing to the courtesy of the Proprietor and Editor that they are now republished in book form. Their original publication in the pages of a Church newspaper will explain something of the lines on which the book is fashioned. The articles were written to explain and to describe the origin and de\elopment of the Armorial Bearings of the ancient Dioceses of Scotland. These Coats of arms are, and have been more or less con- tinuously, used by the Scottish Episcopal Church since they came into use in the middle of the 17th century, though whether the disestablished Church has a right to their use or not is a vexed question. Fox-Davies holds that the Church of Ireland and the Episcopal Chuich in Scotland lost their diocesan Coats of Arms on disestablishment, and that the Welsh Church will suffer the same loss when the Disestablishment Act comes into operation ( Public Arms).
    [Show full text]
  • Orkney Greylag Goose Survey Report 2015
    The abundance and distribution of British Greylag Geese in Orkney, August 2015 A report by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust to Scottish Natural Heritage Carl Mitchell 1, Alan Leitch 2, & Eric Meek 3 November 2015 1 The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucester, GL2 7BT 2 The Willows, Finstown, Orkney, KY17, 2EJ 3 Dashwood, 66 Main Street, Alford, Aberdeenshire, AB33 8AA 1 © The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright holder. This publication should be cited as: Mitchell, C., A.J. Leitch & E. Meek. 2015. The abundance and distribution of British Greylag Geese in Orkney, August 2015. Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Report, Slimbridge. 16pp. Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Slimbridge Gloucester GL2 7BT T 01453 891900 F 01453 890827 E [email protected] Reg. Charity no. 1030884 England & Wales, SC039410 Scotland 2 Contents Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 2 Methods ................................................................................................................................................. 3 Field counts ......................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Kirk in the Garden of Evie
    THE KIRK IN THE GARDEN OF EVIE A Thumbnail Sketch of the History of the Church in Evie Trevor G Hunt Minister of the linked Churches of Evie, Firth and Rendall, Orkney First Published by Evie Kirk Session Evie, Orkney. 1987 Republished 1996 ComPrint, Orkney 908056 Forward to the 1987 Publication This brief history was compiled for the centenary of the present Evie Church building and I am indebted to all who have helped me in this work. I am especially indebted to the Kirk’s present Session Clerk, William Wood of Aikerness, who furnished useful local information, searched through old Session Minutes, and compiled the list of ministers for Appendix 3. Alastair Marwick of Whitemire, Clerk to the Board, supplied a good deal of literature, obtained a copy of the Title Deeds, gained access to the “Kirk aboon the Hill”, and conducted a tour (even across fields in his car) to various sites. He also contributed valuable local information and I am grateful for all his support. Thanks are also due to Margaret Halcro of Lower Crowrar, Rendall, for information about her name sake, and to the Moars of Crook, Rendall, for other Halcro family details. And to Sheila Lyon (Hestwall, Sandwick), who contributed information about Margaret Halcro (of the seventeenth century!). TREVOR G HUNT Finstown Manse March 1987 Foreword to the 1996 Publication Nearly ten years on seemed a good time to make this history available again, and to use the advances in computer technology to improve its appearance and to make one or two minor corrections.. I was also anxious to include the text of the history as a page on the Evie, Firth and Rendall Churches’ Internet site for reference and, since revision was necessary to do this, it was an opportunity to republish in printed form.
    [Show full text]
  • ST MAGNUS: an EXPLORATION of HIS SAINTHOOD William P
    ST MAGNUS: AN EXPLORATION OF HIS SAINTHOOD William P. L. Thomson When the editors of New Dictionary of National Biography were recently discussing ways in which the new edition is different from the old, they re­ marked that one of the changes is in the treatment of saints: The lives [of saints] are no longer viewed as straightforward stories with an unfor­ tunate, but easily discounted, tendency to exaggeration, but may now be valued more for what they reveal about their authors, or about the milieu in which they were written, than for any information they contain about their ostensible subjects (DNB 1998). This is a good note on which to begin the exploration of Magnus's saint­ hood. We need to concern ourselves with the historical Magnus - and Magnus has a better historical basis than many saints - but equally we need to explore the ways people have perceived his sainthood and often manipulated it for their own purposes. The Divided Earldom The great Earl Thorfinn was dead by I 066 and his earldom was shared by his two sons (fig. I). It was a weakness of the earldom that it was divisible among heirs, and the joint rule of Paul and Erlend gave rise to a split which resulted not just in THOR FINN PAUL I ERLEND Kali I I HAKON MAGNUS Gunnhild m Kol I ,- I Maddad m Margaret HARALD PAUL II ROGNVALD E. of Atholl I HARALD MADDADSSON Ingirid I Harald the Younger Fig. 1. The Earls of Orkney. 46 the martyrdom of Magnus, but in feuds which still continued three and four generations later when Orkneyinga Saga was written (c.1200).
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 50Th Anniversary Issue
    Orkney Heritage Society 1968-2018 50th Anniversary Issue Objectives of the Orkney Heritage Society The aims of the Society are to promote and encourage the following objectives by charitable means: 1. To stimulate public interest in, and care for the beauty, history and character of Orkney. 2. To encourage the preservation, development and improvement of features of general public amenity or historical interest. 3. To encourage high standards of architecture and town planning in Orkney. 4. To pursue these ends by means of meetings, exhibitions, lectures, conferences, publicity and promotion of schemes of a charitable nature. New members are always welcome To learn more about the society and its ongoing work, check out the regularly updated website at www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/ohs or contact us at Orkney Heritage Society PO Box No. 6220 Kirkwall Orkney KW15 9AD Front Cover: Robert Garden and his wife, Margaret Jolly, along with one of their daughters standing next to the newly re-built Groatie Hoose. It got its name from the many shells, including ‘groatie buckies’, decorating the tower. Note the weather vane showing some of Garden’s floating shops. Photo gifted by Mrs Catherine Dinnie, granddaughter of Robert Garden. 1 Orkney Heritage Society Committee 2018 President: Sandy Firth, Edan, Berstane Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1NA [email protected] Vice President: Sheena Wenham, Withacot, Holm [email protected] Chairman: Spencer Rosie, 7 Park Loan, Kirkwall, KW15 1PU [email protected] Vice Chairman: David Murdoch, 13
    [Show full text]
  • Special Sale of Store Cattle Monday 29 April 2019
    Special Sale of Store Cattle Monday 29 April 2019 TIMES APPROX. ISLES 10:30 Stevenson, Bu, Stronsay 1-40 Seatter, Noup, Westray 41-67 Rendall, Windywalls, Westray 83-96 Heard, Huip, Stronsay 97-108 Clark, Quoy-I-Dale, Hoy 109-115 Clark, Burgar, Hoy 116-118 Walls, Inkerman, Sanday 119-125 Thomson, Beafield, Sanday 126-139 Colligarth Farms, Sanday 140-150 Faraclett Farms, Rousay 68-80 Farquar, Testaquoy, Rousay 81-82 MAINLAND 11:20 Clark, Stratheast, Holm 407-434 Moar, Eastaquoy, Harray 435-446 Sinclair, Holland, Firth 447 Sinclair, South Breck, Firth 448-449 Baille, Sebay View, Tankerness 450-453 Baillie, Sebay, Tankerness 454-455 Flett, Howan, Dounby 456-457 Tormiston Farms. Stenness 458-463 Omand, Wardhill, South Ronaldsay 464-496 Stevenson, Bu, Orphir 497-506 Wylie, Greenigoe, Orphir 290-334 ISLES 12:00 Stout, Whitehall, Stronsay 151-175 Stout, Linksness, Stronsay 176-185 Allison, Kirbuster, Longhope 186-213 Brown, Millbrae, Sanday 214-224 Johnston, Hewan, Shapinsay 225-228 Burgher, Ness, Westray 229-233 Swannie, Ramsquoy, Stenness 234-243 Brown, Newhall, Stromness 244-256 & 258 Brown, E, Newhall, Stromness 257 Backakelday Farms, Holm 259-273 Biggings Farm, Stenness 274-288 & 2289-2300 MAINLAND 12:40 Corrigall, Northbigging, Dounby 507-528 &1529-1538 Foubister, Nertherton, Holm 529-538 Harvey, Quholmslie, Stromness 539-544 Flett, Nistaben, Harray 545-550 Breckness Estate, Binscarth, Firth 551-566 Watson, Rennibister, By Kirkwall 567-577 Henry, Howe, Harray 578-584 Lyth, Heatherhouse, Tankerness 585-588 Craigie, Hall of Clestrain, Orphir
    [Show full text]
  • Dissolution and Formation of Extended-Family Households in Northern Orkney, Scotland, 1851-1901
    DISSOLUTION AND FORMATION OF EXTENDED-FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS IN NORTHERN ORKNEY, SCOTLAND, 1851-1901 Julia A. Jennings,1,2 Corey S. Sparks,3 James W. Wood,1,2 Patricia L. Johnson,1,2 Timothy M. Murtha,4 Stephen A. Matthews1,2 1Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 2Population Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 3Department of Demography and Organization Studies, University of Texas, San Antonio TX 78249 4Department of Landscape Architecture, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 2009 IUSSP Conference, Marrakech, Morocco Introduction Historical demographers have long debated the nature of households in past societies, with much attention paid to the categorization of household types and the analysis of their spatial distribution and changes in prevalence over time [1-6]. In the traditional farming system that dominated the economy of preindustrial Orkney in Scotland, households provided the labor needed to produce food and other goods for family consumption. In order to improve their odds of a successful subsistence enterprise, these smallholder households needed to balance the group’s current age and sex composition with both current and future food consumption and labor requirements [7-9]. Household composition can be considered an important factor in determining household energy requirements as well as its ability to muster enough labor to produce the goods necessary to satisfy those needs. When considered in conjunction with agricultural resources, such as arable land, to which the household has access, household composition may be an important determinant of the economic and physical well-being of its members, especially at times of stress, such as might be expected during food shortages or the illness or death of family members.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rising Tide: Submerged Landscape of Orkney
    The Rising Tide: Submerged Landscape of Orkney Quarterly Report: June 2009 S Dawsoni & CR Wickham-Jonesii i Department of Geography, University of Dundee, [email protected] ii Department of Archaeology, University of Aberdeen, [email protected] 1 Project Work Fieldwork Damsay, Bay of Firth Field research took place in the Bay of Firth in June 2009, in liaison with Richard Bates of the University of St Andrews and Paul Byham of SEA survey. Work concentrated on the sea areas around the island of Damsay (below). Location of Bathymetric survey and diving – June 2009 Methods • Detailed geophysical survey work using bathymetric side scan sonar. • Shallow diving. Aims • Elucidation of selected targets identified during the side-scan survey undertaken in September 2008. • Verification of techniques. 2 Targets identified during sidescan survey in September 2008 (Fiona Stewart) Geophysics Geophysical survey concentrated in the shallow areas immediately offshore the island of Damsay where previous work had identified a number of individual targets. In total eight potential targets were examined, together with five general searches (table 1). Detailed analyses and mosaic results are awaited but preliminary examples of the type of data produced can be given (see below). F G A H B E C D Damsay, selected targets Damsay, looking towards the beach (location A). 3 TARGET Location Anomaly Result A 59.00.580N 03.04.050W Bay on W coast of Several stone Damsay, clear subsea features embayment B 59.00.3898N 03.04.1596W Unusual reading on Stone
    [Show full text]
  • Drowned Stone Age Settlement of the Bay of Firth, Orkney, Scotland
    Drowned Stone Age The Neolithic sites of Orkney settlement of the Bay of are about 5000 years old. They include villages such as Skara Firth, Orkney, Scotland Brae where stone-built furniture may still be seen. CR Wickham-Jones1 S. Dawson2& R Bates3 Report produced in compliance with the requirements of the NGS/Waitt Grant for award no W49-09 Introduction This paper presents the results of geophysical survey and diving work in Skara Brae: Raymond Parks the Bay of Firth, Orkney supported by the NGS/Waitt Grant. This work Tombs such as Maeshowe took place in 2009 with the aim of recording and verifying possible were built for the occupants of the Neolithic villages submerged prehistoric stone structures on the sea bed. The archipelago of Orkney comprises a small Location of area of interest in Bay of Firth, Orkney group of low-lying islands Maeshowe: Sigurd Towrie seven miles to the north of Great stone circles were built in mainland Scotland. It is order to mark the passing of the year and celebrate well known for its festivities archaeology which includes the stone built houses, tombs and monuments that make up the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Sites. The archaeology of Orkney is unique both in terms of the range of monuments that have Stones of Stenness: Raymond survived and in terms of the diversity of artefactual material that has been Parks uncovered. 1 University of Aberdeen, [email protected] 2 University of Dundee, [email protected] 3 University of St Andrews, [email protected] 1 Sediment cores may be extracted by hand as here in the Loch of Stenness There is another, less well known, side to Orkney archaeology, however, and that comprises the submerged landscape around the islands.
    [Show full text]
  • The Scottish Historical Review
    The Scottish Historical Review VOL. XVL, No. 61 OCTOBER 1918 Brus versus Balliol, 1291-1292: the Model for Edward I/s Tribunal is no small pity that the great lawsuit for the Crown of IT Scotland still waits a competent and full report of its many aspects not only as a great national episode but also as a brilliant example of exact juridical record, and a leading case in the law of feudal succession. Sir Francis Palgrave edited in 1837, in his Documents and Records illustrating the history of Scotland, a great number of till then almost wholly overlooked pleadings and minutes in the elaborate litigation of the would-be kings. For in these legal muniments he wrote an important and many respects fascinating introduction, which brought back for the first time into light and life the varied and often thrilling phases of claims and counterclaims, precedents, answers and arguments, minutes, procurations and notarial notes of the sundry sessions and adjournments of the cause, including the nominations of the Auditors for the various parties and for the postulant Lord Paramount himself in the great debate for a throne. Much subtle and skilful interpretation was put forward in the introduction, the substance of which has stood little affected by the course of historical or legal criticism during the eighty years which have passed since then. It was a famous and worthy adventure in historical disquisition in which Sir Francis touched with a master-hand many of the constitutional issues at stake. But on one important theme he was silent, and upon that the curiosity of his critics seems to have been no livelier than his own.
    [Show full text]
  • Location of Burns Surveyed in the Orkney Islands Between 2004 and 2009 to Determine the Presence of Brown Trout Populations
    Appendix A: Location of burns surveyed in the Orkney Islands between 2004 and 2009 to determine the presence of brown trout populations. National grid references (NGRs) provided for burn mouth (at coast). “p/a” = presence/absence survey. Trout present Anadromous Burn NGR Survey type (Y/N) (Y/N) Yesnaby Burn HY 221156 P/A N N Marwick Burn HY 229243 P/A N N Boardhouse HY 246275 P/A Y N Burn of Woo HY 363268 P/A N N Gritness Burn HY 366266 P/A N N Desso Burn HY 379265 Single run Y Y Woodwick Burn HY 392240 Single run Y Y Wasswick Burn HY 412220 Single run N N Hall of Rendall HY 424207 P/A N N Puldrite HY 420187 P/A N N Varme Dale HY 407183 P/A N N Burness HY 391163 Single run Y Y Isbister HY 392181 Single run Y Y Benziaroth HY 370147 P/A N N Binscarth HY 355142 Single run Y Y Maitlands Burn HY 363136 P/A Y N Stennadale Burn HY 360138 P/A Y N Davies Brig HY 375129 P/A N N Rossmyre HY 387126 Single run Y Y Rennibister (West) HY 395123 Single run Y Y Rennibister (East) HY 397123 P/A Y N Rennibister farm1 HY 398130 P/A N N Rennibister farm2 HY 399130 P/A Y Y* Burn of Hatson HY 436130 P/A N N Carness Burn HY 467136 P/A N N Meil Burn HY 475120 P/A N N Wideford Burn HY 477087 Single run Y Y Weethick HY 500095 P/A N N Loch of Tankerness HY 515085 P/A N N Heatherhouse Burn HY 533111 P/A N N Nethermill HY 514078 P/A N N Sebay Cottages HY 523060 P/A N N Burn of Voy (Tankerness) HY 525042 Single run Y Y Sebay Mill Burn HY 516046 Single run Y Y Eves Loch HY 548060 P/A N N Loch of Ouse HY 548073 P/A N N Netherstove (Sandside Bay) HY 588068 P/A N N Newark
    [Show full text]