Vikings in the Prehistoric Landscape: Studies on Mainland Orkney

Norse settlers in Mainland Orkney strategically integrated the region's ancient Neolithic monuments into their social identity, blending continuity with traditional Scandinavian practices. This study reveals that Norse occupation, spanning from the late 8th to the 14th centuries, often reused Late Iron Age sites and maintained long-term settlement sequences, while also familiarizing themselves with older landmarks through naming conventions. By mapping archaeological records against prehistoric monuments in two case study regions and analyzing toponymic evidence, researchers found that landscape integration was a key method for Norse colonists to establish ancestry on Orkney, demonstrating both physical and cultural assimilation over centuries.

Leonard, A. (2011). Vikings in the Prehistoric Landscape: Studies on Mainland Orkney. Landscapes, 12(1), 42–68. https://doi.org/10.1179/lan.2011.12.1.42