St Kilda is an isolated archipelago west of the Hebridies. The etymology of St Kilda is debated, but it does not refer to a saint - the most likely origin is from Old Norse: either a corruption of Skildir ('shield') or from the Norse name for a…
St Kilda is an isolated archipelago west of the Hebridies. The etymology of St Kilda is debated, but it does not refer to a saint - the most likely origin is from Old Norse: either a corruption of Skildir ('shield') or from the Norse name for a…
St Kilda is an isolated archipelago west of the Hebridies. The etymology of St Kilda is debated, but it does not refer to a saint - the most likely origin is from Old Norse: either a corruption of Skildir ('shield') or from the Norse name for a…
Smoo Cave in Durness in the north of Scotland. Archaeological investigation has identified Neolithic, Norse and Iron Age artefacts. 'Smoo' is thought to derive from Old Norse 'smuga' (a small hole, narrow cleft).
Egilsay is famous as the site of the martyrdom of St Magnus, and for the church that still stands on the site, with its unusual round tower. Egilsay may refer to the personal name Egil (Egil's Island) or to Gaelic eagles, meaning church. It was the…
Each proclamation displayed publicly before the Up Helly Aa festival includes a painting, usually relating to the Viking heritage of Shetland. These are housed in the Up Helly Aa Exhibition.
The Up Helly A' is a festival celebrated on the 24th day…
A handy guide to Norse place name elements, produced by the Shetland Place Names Project, and available to download on the Shetland Amenity Trust Website.
In addition to many streets bearing Norse names, some buildings also have Norse roots. This example of a house named 'Seagate' (or sea street) may reference a road that has changed its name.
Runic fragment from Noss (Br Sh7 M).Reading...-uko=ktuAccording to Rundata, found in 1994 during excavations of the medieval chapel and cemetery.Probably graffiti.
This is the entrance of Kirkwall Airport, Orkney. The placename Grimsetter is written in the runes "krimsitir" in the younger futhark. The new building was opened in 2002 and I have been told that M. P. Barnes advised on the correct use of the runes.
Viking-Age Rune stone from Papil, West Burra (Br Sh4) photographed in the Shetland Museum. According to Rundata, it reads
...r : ra(i)s(t)(i) : s... ...
... reisti s[tein] ...
'...Raised the stone...'
Ring-money from an unknown location in Shetland (donated by Lerwick Town Council) and replica of ring-money from Dunrossness on display in the National Museum of Scotland.
Brooches from a woman's grave discovered on Unst, on display in Shetland Museum and Archives. These are replicas of the items held in the National Museum of Scotland.