SWAAG QUICK LINKS
Searchable Archives
|
| New research on Viking skeletons in Britain - isotopes, peptides and cremations |
Last night Professor Janet Montgomery gave a fascinating talk to a packed room of SWAAG members and visitors. To quote from the abstract of one of her papers on the subject;
"Identifying people of exotic origins with isotopes depends upon finding isotopic attributes that are inconsistent with the indigenous population. This task is seldom straightforward and may vary with physical geography, through time, and with cultural practices. Isotopes and trace elements were measured in four Viking Age (8th to 10th centuries A.D.) skeletons from Dublin, Ireland, and three from Westness, Orkney. These were compared with other data from these locations and contemporaneous skeletons from Britain. We conclude that the male skeletons from Dublin have disparate origins, two originating beyond the shores of Ireland, and that the female and two male skeletons from Westness are not indigenous to Orkney. However, the homeland of the female, in contrast to the males, is unlikely to be in Scandinavia."
(Finding Vikings with Isotope Analysis: The View from Wet and Windy Islands
Janet Montgomery, Vaughan Grimes, Jo Buckberry, Jane A. Evans, Michael P. Richards, James H. Barrett)
Janet also talked about exciting discoveries in the way tooth enamel peptides can enable determination of sex, even in neonate and juvenile skeletons. This new technique will heve a wide range of appplications in archaeology. |
 |
|
| Professor Janet Montgomery of Durham University |
|
| Click an image to enlarge in a new tab |
| |
|
|
|
|
| News Record: 80 Updated: 12-06-2019 09:53:32 |
|
|
| Surveying The Hagg Site |
Last Sunday a team of dedicated SWAAG volunteer surveyors braved the icy winds on The Hagg, ahead of this year's dig. Resistivity and Magnetometry kit was deployed with the aim of investigating potentially new areas of settlement on the site.
Digging commences on July 10th for two weeks and although the list of diggers is almost full, there are still a few places left. Anyone interested in joining us (equipment and training are provided) should email Rod@swaag.org for further details. |
 |
 |
|
|
| Click an image to enlarge in a new tab |
| |
|
|
|
|
| News Record: 78 Updated: 07-05-2019 11:20:46 |
|
|
| SWAAG 10 year celebration (and AGM) |
| An impressive turnout for last night's meeting in the Buck. This included the AGM and, more importantly, a celebration to mark 10 years of SWAAG's existence.
David entertained us with a number of slides and a talk about the group's activities over the last decade and gave thanks to the many people who have helped along the way and made SWAAG what it is today. Tim, Peter and Alan (the founding fathers) reminisced about the group's many achievements, and also talked about the possible future direction of the group.
Thanks to the staff at The Buck for the pie and pea supper, and a big thanks to Delyth for baking not just one, but three delicious birthday cakes! |
 |
 |
| An impressive turnout for the AGM |
10 years on and Alan, Peter and Tim don't look a day older. |
| Click an image to enlarge in a new tab |
| |
 |
|
| One of Delyth's delicious cakes. |
|
| News Record: 77 Updated: 10-04-2019 09:09:05 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
