In This Section:

Economy and Subsistence

Research Questions

SIRFA SH7: What did pre-Neolithic resource usage look like across Shetland?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH7
More information:
What resources were available during this early stage of Shetland’s occupation? What would have been considered the key resources? Is it possible to identify them and their usage in the archaeological record? Further, what factors would have impacted on their usage? Were these seasonal? Were there social restrictions/requirements? How should these be explored? It is expected that addressing this question will rely on palaeoenvironmental research and data, as well as osteoarchaeological or zooarchaeological research if any skeletal remains are recovered. Reassessment of existing datasets, reports, archives and collections, alongside new programmes of material analysis are likely ways forward. In a developer-funded context, the research significance of faunal and environmental data needs to be emphasized.

SIRFA SH8: How big was Shetland’s pre-Neolithic population?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH8
More information:
This is an aspirational question. Currently, there is a lack of information, data and sites to address this question in earnest. Nevertheless, it is recommended that future researchers consider ways of gauging the likely size of Shetland’s Mesolithic population. Is it possible to estimate how large a population might have been active in Shetland during the Mesolithic? And if so, what does this tell us about Mesolithic communities and about Shetland during this period? How do we understand population movements, dynamics, and resource usage during the Mesolithic without a sense of population size and density of activity? Developer-funded work is likely to play an important role; trial trench evaluations and archaeological monitoring provide scope for identify sites and material across large, previously uninvestigated areas and landscapes. Opportunistic discoveries of potential Mesolithic remains should be considered a priority in this context. In addition, new methods for modelling past populations and revised thinking on how this information is interpreted.

SIRFA SH33: What was the impact of the emergence of agriculture in Shetland?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH33
More information:
The arrival of agriculture was a landmark stage in the development of many cultures across the globe. However, the impacts of the arrival of farming are not necessarily examined beyond changes in diet and a shift to sedentary settlement. What were the impacts on Shetland’s environment? How did the arrival of crops and livestock impact on the flora and fauna? What was the extent of prehistoric cereal cultivation during this time? Further, what was the extent of usable land (for farming or otherwise)? What were the wider impacts of the arrival of agriculture on Shetland’s material culture? For example, the tools, pottery, artistic outlets, etc. Existing research has begun to address this and related questions (Whittle 1986; Turner 2013). However, there is a lot more detail to uncover. It is suggested that future research considers focusing on the South Mainland, which is likely to have been an attractive area for growing crops as well as beneficial to archaeological researchers in terms of preservation conditions. However, there is very little complementary palaeoenvironmental work for this region (although see Whittington et al 2003). It is unlikely that these questions will be addressed via a single project. A series of well-funded projects, almost certainly interdisciplinary and multi-proxy in nature, are likely ways forward. It is likely that these questions will be addressed partly through collation, reassessment and reanalysis of existing grey, published, and unpublished literature, in addition to synthesis of the knowledge held within museum collections and environmental data. Research may also be reliant on more survey work and data, with a potential later focus on long-term excavation efforts. In a developer-funded context, the research significance of surveying, dating and other post-excavation work with the potential to inform on this period needs to be emphasised, as well as environmental data and post-excavation work.

SIRFA SH36: What range of resources did Shetland’s Neolithic communities use and rely on for their subsistence?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH36
More information:
It is currently unclear what the full range of resources exploited by Neolithic communities looked like in Shetland. Is it possible to identify the full range of resources and how and when they were used? Seasonality must be considered, in addition to variations in diet and resource usage that may have related to age, sex, gender, and such. In contrast to the Mesolithic, there is the additional interplay of the sea, crops (or agricultural resources), domesticated animals and wild resources throughout the Neolithic. Was there a shift in natural resource use into the Neolithic across Shetland? Was this significant? Further, how should this be explored? What methodologies should be utilised? Reassessment of existing datasets, reports, archives and collections, alongside new programmes of material analysis are likely ways forward. In a developer-funded context, the research significance of faunal and environmental data needs to be emphasised.

SIRFA SH45: What agricultural system was in use during Shetland’s Neolithic?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH45
More information:
Is it possible to determine what systems of agriculture were developed and in place during Shetland’s Neolithic? Was it a predominantly pastoral, arable, or mixed system? Further, was this an agricultural economy? Was the Neolithic subsistence economy more complex than is typically assumed? Further, is there any evidence to indicate how land was managed? The introduction of farming is usually associated with the establishing of field walled field systems; was this the case in Shetland? Where are the land divisions for crops or animals? If they were in use why have they not yet been found

SIRFA SH54: What was the structure of Shetland’s Early Bronze Age exchange network?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH54
More information:
Currently, it remains poorly understood how Shetland featured in wider Early Bronze Age exchange (or trade) networks. Likewise, understanding of internal trade networks during this period is limited. Where was the starting point for exchange and trade routes from and to Shetland? How far did these networks extend? What was transported and traded along these routes? Further, is it possible to determine if these networks interlinked with different settlements and locales within Shetland? It is anticipated that new methodologies will be developed or ‘transferred’ from other disciplines to further this research. Increasing the dataset for Shetland’s Early Bronze will undoubtedly help address these questions more fully. Is it possible to find out where tin and copper was being sourced from during this period? Dedicated survey work to increase known sites, as well as excavation work will clearly be crucial in moving these questions forward, alongside dedicated programmes of scientific dating. In a developer-funded context, the research significance of dating and other post-excavation work needs to be emphasised as well as the potential for survey, evaluation and monitoring work to greatly enhance Early Bronze Age datasets.

SIRFA SH58: What agricultural system was in use during Shetland’s Bronze Age?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH58
More information:
Major steps towards understanding Shetland’s prehistoric landscape have been made by Turner (2012) and Christie (2019). But there remains a lack of chronological refinement and thus key gaps around how the Bronze Age landscape was structured and used. Is it possible to determine what agricultural systems were in place in Shetland during the Bronze Age? Was it pastoral, arable, or mixed? Further, was this an agricultural economy? Was the economy of this time more complex than is typically assumed? Further, is there any evidence to show how land was managed? The introduction of farming is usually associated with the establishing of field walled field systems; is this correct? Where are the land divisions for crops or animals? If they were in use why have they not yet been found? It is likely that this will be best answered through landscape survey, strategic excavation strategies as well as continued analysis of existing assemblages. The general paucity of Bronze Age dates and is also a barrier to further research here. Within a developer-funded context the significance and value of retaining and analysing faunal remains and environmental evidence needs emphasis.

SIRFA SH59: What did Bronze Age resource usage look like in Shetland?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH59
More information:
As with previous periods, it is currently unclear what key resources were utilised by Bronze Age communities across Shetland. The research gap is to better identify resources exploited during this period as well as information about their use. Seasonality must be considered, in addition to variations in resource usage that may have been related to age, sex, gender, etc. As with the Neolithic, there is the additional interplay of the sea, crops (or agricultural resources), and wild resources throughout the Bronze Age. Is there a shift in resource use and exploitation from previous periods? Was this significant? It is likely that these questions will be addressed through analysis of materials and collections already held in institutions and museums, as well as materials emerging from new excavations. Interdisciplinary approaches will also be important, as well as archaeological survey. In a developer-funded context, the research significance of all environmental data for this period needs to be emphasised.

SIRFA SH71: How extensive was iron manufacture and usage across Iron Age Shetland?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH71
More information:
Very few artefacts of iron or copper have been found from Iron Age contexts across Shetland. Why is this? Does the lack of iron artefacts suggest an absence of metal working skills in Shetland’s Iron Age? There is evidence of bronze and silver working from some of Shetland’s later Iron Age village. But few metal working sites of this period have been excavated and evidence for smelting is thin on the ground. Alternatively, could the apparent lack of metal work reflect cultural avoidance of these materials or perhaps a culture predisposed to recycling metalwork? Where are the metal ore resources in Shetland? Potentially copper and bog iron are available locally. Does the lack of the former explain the absence of evidence for the latter? Whether manufactured locally or imported as finished, what other explanations are there for the general lack of iron and other metals in Shetland’s Iron Age assemblages?

SIRFA SH72: How were wood resources managed and used by Shetland’s Iron Age communities?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH72
More information:
It is a well-held assumption, that monumental Iron Age architecture required substantial timber resources for flooring and roofing. What is the direct evidence for the use of timber as a building material during the Shetlandic Iron Age? What about other uses of wood during this period, for example for artefacts and fuel? How extensive and available were natural timber resources across Shetland during this period? Current thinking suggest that Shetland was not densely wooded during later prehistory. But it is possible that small, but effective, areas of woodland were carefully managed by Iron Age communities. If that was the case, how might this be better evidenced archaeologically? Driftwood may also have been an important and potentially sustainable resource. Essentially, how was wood used and where did it come from during Shetland’s Iron Age? Is there evidence to suggest a decline in timber resources during the Iron Age and if so, how does this correspond to changes in material culture and architecture? These complex research gaps likely require a range of multidisciplinary approaches to push our knowledge and understanding forward; targeted pollen studies and other environmental analyses, reanalysis of existing excavation records, archives and museum collections, opportunistic discoveries of wooden materials in waterlogged contexts, etc. In a developer-funded context, the significance of recovering, conserving and analysing environmental and other organic materials needs to be emphasised.

SIRFA SH74: How did nucleated settlements develop during Shetland’s Iron Age?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH74
More information:
Nucleated settlements (or ‘broch villages’) are well known across Shetland. They are also a feature of the Orcadian Iron Age. These are complex sites to understand and interpret. It is not yet fully understood how nucleated settlements across Shetland related chronologically to their associated brochs – were they broadly contemporary constructions, with broch and broch village in use over similar timespans? Or did they tend to represent temporally distinct episodes in broch site development? Why were some brochs associated with broch villages, while others remained as isolated structures? Were these decisions made when structures were first built, or did changing circumstances dictate if and when nucleated settlements emerged in Shetland? Did location, changes in population, availability of local resources play a role in these decisions? Or did these sites always have subtly different functions and uses? Targeted survey work is an obvious way forward. Is there also a role for ethnographic and placename studies in locating other Iron Age settlements? In a developer-funded context, the research significance of dating and other post-excavation work needs to be emphasised, in addition to field surveying and the accurate and thorough recording of structures and material culture.

SIRFA SH75: What can animal remains tell us about Shetland’s Later Prehistoric land use and management?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH75
More information:
Research elsewhere in Scotland has successfully combined more traditional faunal analyses with newer laboratory techniques to better understand Later Prehistoric land management and animal husbandry (e.g. Iron Age dairying in the Hebrides). Is a similar approach possible and appropriate for exploring Shetland’s later prehistory? It is suggested that researchers explore multi-disciplinary approaches and utilise archaeological sciences, such as stable isotope analysis. This research will likely require appropriate datasets. Collating and assessing the potential of existing datasets and targeting new sites are likely to be key in moving this research forward. In a commercial context, the research significance of Later Prehistoric faunal material and Later Prehistoric farming, land management and agricultural remains needs to be emphasised.

SIRFA SH76: How extensive and wide-reaching were Shetland’s Iron Age trade networks?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH76
More information:
Current evidence points to several substantial production centres across Iron Age Shetland; were these production centres purely for local consumption or did they develop in response to external trade? If Shetlandic material was consumed outwith these islands, then who were Iron Age communities trading with and where were materials exported to? How far away did Iron Age trade contacts reach from Shetland? Is there evidence for direct trade contacts with parts of Romanised Britain, for example, or were these second- or third-hand imports?

SIRFA SH77: Did the importation of domestic animal species into Shetland continue into Later Prehistoric periods?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH77
More information:
Sheep, cattle and horses were not native to Shetland but were instead brought to these islands as domesticated species during the Neolithic. However, is there evidence to suggest that domestic species continued to be imported to Shetland into and throughout Later Prehistory? A better grasp of the origin and species management of later prehistoric domesticates has the potential to further our understanding of Shetland’s Iron Age and Bronze Age economies and wider political connections. It is recommended that archaeological sciences are utilised to explore this topic, most notably stable isotope analysis (both mobility and dietary). In a developer-funded context, the research significance of faunal material needs to be emphasised.

SIRFA SH86: What impact did the location of steatite resources have on related industrial activity during the Norse period?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH86
More information:
Steatite was clearly an important resource during the Norse period, enabling the development of key industries and trade connections. However, steatite is only present in very specific locations across Shetland. How did the distribution of raw materials impact on the development of related industries during the Norse period?? How were Shetland’s industrial and economic landscapes structured with regard to Steatite extraction, production, manufacture and trade? How did the location of steatite resources impact the development and wealth of Norse settlements? Can materials be identified to specific extraction locations and were there differences in quality between locales? If so, how did these differences impact wider steatite economy across Shetland? It is likely that this these questions will benefit from multi-disciplinary approaches. Working with geologists in particular will be of value, likely alongside survey, excavation and artefact analysis. In a commercial context, the research significance of dating and other post-excavation work should be emphasised.

SIRFA SH87: How did farming and animal husbandry practices change with the arrival of Norse populations to Shetland?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH87
More information:
We still don’t fully understand how farming, animal husbandry and wider subsistence strategies changed with the arrival of Norse populations to Shetland. Did Scandinavian settlers introduce livestock to Shetland and if so, how extensive and impactful were these introductions? New and more intensive agricultural practices are generally associated with this period. If this was the case in Shetland, what was the impact on the island environment? More specifically, what was the impact on the island’s soil fertility and stability? Were Norse communities as successful at managing agricultural landscapes across Shetland, including stabilising soils and maintaining soil fertility, as ‘native’ Iron Age populations? If so, what does this suggest about the relationship, integration and communication with pre-existing farmers across Shetland? Soils evidence from Scatness suggests that agriculture was less intensive during the Norse period – or at least their soil management was much less intensive. However, perhaps there was less need to intensively cultivate soils because the pattern of settlement was so different in this period. Certainly, Turner’s research (2012) suggests less intensive soil management into the Viking and Norse periods. Further soils work and more expanded landscape surveys would help expand our understanding here.

SIRFA SH88: What range of materials were exported from Shetland during the Norse period?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH88
More information:
Steatite is widely recognised as a key Shetland export during the islands’ Norse period and an excellent example of the wide trade connections from Shetland established during this period. But what of other materials, resources or products exported during this period? What do export materials, resources or products suggested about Shetland’s role and significance in the wider Norse world during this period? These research questions are unlikely to be addressed within a single research project. It is likely that these questions will benefit from international collaborations, with Scottish researchers working with colleagues based across and outwith the UK. Collating, reassessing and reanalysing of existing archives, museum collections and reports will form a series of projects with a Shetland focus as well as international focus will be required. In a developer-funded context, the importance of funding post-excavation work on materials should be emphasised.

SIRFA SH99: What do shipwrecks off Shetland’s coast tell us about changes in maritime activity throughout the post-medieval era?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH99
More information:
Where are the shipwrecks and what do the remains of these vessels suggest about the nature and purpose of post-medieval maritime activities associated with Shetland? What is known about post-medieval shipwrecking within Shetland’s waters? How frequently were ships or boats wrecked in Shetland’s waters and how did this change over time? Furthermore, what does the distribution of shipwrecks around Shetland tell us? It is recommended that extensive underwater survey work and desk-based research is carried out during the initial stages of this research.

SIRFA SH106: Where were Shetland’s post-medieval boat noosts and boat houses?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH106
More information:
For the post-medieval period, as with earlier periods, there are substantial knowledge gaps around how people in the past accessed, navigated and interacted with the sea. For the post-medieval period there is a sense that these knowledge gaps are less crucial; historic documents trace the establishment of Shetland’s key ports and harbours and provide some information on navigation technology and key marine industries and activities. Yet, little is still known about local or community scale interactions with the sea throughout the post-medieval period. Where are Shetland’s post-medieval boat noosts and boat houses? What of natural harbours and their use throughout the post-medieval period? What does the geographic distribution of boat noosts and boathouses suggest about marine-based subsistence practices and the wider economy throughout the post-medieval period? Furthermore, what does the evidence suggest about the need for marine transport and wider connections during Shetland’s post-medieval period? Crucially, how do we identify and date boat noosts? Can we observe changes through the post-medieval period with regard to the way in which the sea was accessed, navigated and used across Shetland? What characterises post-medieval boat noosts; how big are they, what kind or size of vessels did they likely accommodate? Were there differences in either distribution or character across the archipelago, suggestive of more localised practices? The recent Caain da Noosts Project coordinate by Moder Dy is an excellent example of a community engagement project with the aim of information gathering on this topic. In addition to this, targeted surveys are recommended as key first steps in addressing these wider questions. A fundamental aspect of this research will centre on dating these features – OSL dating has been shown to be useful in some contexts OSL (Sandison et al), but there is far more work required in terms of dating, the variety of forms and potentially function. Also, where it exists, oral history could be a valuable resource to mine. Exploring new methods is also encouraged. In a developer-funded context, the importance of boat-noosts, natural harbours and boat houses for enhancing our understanding of past marine practices needs to be emphasised. Accurate recording of these features and, where appropriate, dating and post-excavation work. We also need a better understanding of the post-medieval coastline.

SIRFA SH107: How should Shetland’s contemporary industrial landscapes be recorded from an archaeological perspective?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH107
More information:
Many people do not recognise Shetland’s contemporary industrial landscapes as archaeological contexts (yet). Nevertheless, these industrial landscapes have been key in shaping contemporary life in Shetland, are integral parts of the island’s rich heritage, and, arguably, will form key evidence for future archaeologists who seek to understand the islands’ past. There is currently research underway on the linen industry, which includes some interest in associated archaeological remains. Shetland’s knitwear industry has been relatively researched, but little interest in the mechanised industrial developments which were key features of the 20th century. Weaving and the exploitation of mineral resources in Shetland are two glaring gaps in current research. What archaeological methodologies should be used to record these contemporary industrial places? How can we know what information or data will be of most value, importance, use, or interest in the future?

SIRFA SH108: Is there evidence of pre-modern shieling use in Shetland?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH108
More information:
Shielings in Shetland are typically associated with the modern era, specifically regarded as post-18th century phenomena; is this accurate or were sheilings across Shetland built and in use prior to this? What is the earliest evidence of shieling use in Shetland? If sheilings were built and used only post-18th century, why is this so different from the evidence elsewhere in Scotland? Does this suggest different land use and agricultural practices across Shetland in comparison with other regions? Were shielings in use prior to the mid 20th century in Shetland? How did Sheiling culture differ between Shetland and other places such as the Faroes or the Outer Hebrides? It is likely that interdisciplinary approaches will be valuable here, specifically the use of historical documents and place name evidence. Excavation of sheiling sites alongside programmes of scientific dating is recommended. Within a developer-funded context the importance of sheilings and sheiling landscapes for our understanding of the development of the post-medieval landscapes needs to be emphasised.

SIRFA SH109: How was access to coastal and marine resources structured throughout the post-medieval period?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH109
More information:
It is commonly accepted that Shetland’s post-medieval landscape was structured around township divisions that included access to both agricultural and pastoral land. However, access to the coast and sea as part of post-medieval township structures is less well understood. Where were the key post-medieval shore-based fishing sites and natural harbours? What about access and rights to coastal resources and offshore fishing grounds? Were these organised and structured by township or were there different management structures at play for marine and coastal resources? Did this change over time and if so how and why? Hanseatic trade and fishing for the lairds is reasonably well documented and understood – however, the evidence for this is not always obvious. This ties into the lairds, the truk system and crofters rights (or lack of them). There will be a significant body of documentary evidence around this that could be used to complement archaeological research.

SIRFA SH114: What specialist navigation knowledge was required by prehistoric and historic seafarers in and around Shetland?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH114
More information:
There are substantial gaps in our understanding of prehistoric and historic seafaring practices, including offshore and deep-sea fishing, inter-island travel and wider North Sea trade and communication. In order to achieve a more detailed understanding of the relationship between Shetland’s past communities and the sea, it is suggested that we need better insight of the types of local knowledge and expertise that would have been required by seafarers prior to modern navigation systems. How dangerous would it have been for those navigating Shetland’s waters without specialist, local knowledge? What were the risks? Where would natural landing bays likely have been in the past? What areas of the sea and coast would people have needed or wanted to avoid? What was the likely impact of wind direction, tides, currents and seasonal weather on the navigability of certain areas of Shetland’s coast and surrounding waters? It is suggested that interdisciplinary approaches will be key to more fully addressing these questions, for example, information via oral historians, historians and anthropologists. Moreover, working with and consulting local communities will be crucial, specifically local fishing communities, as well as experts such as local ferry operators and experienced sailors.

SIRFA SH115: When was money first used in Shetland?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH115
More information:
The introduction and use of money encapsulates important economic and political changes in past societies. Yet, it is still unclear when money and a monetary economy were first introduced in Shetland. Is it possible to determine when money was first used in Shetland? What are the oldest coins from Shetland, and can we determine how and why early coinage ended up here? Relatedly, can we determine how early coinage was used – at what point did coinage become currency as opposed to valuable artefact? When did money become the dominant method of economic exchange across the Shetland islands? Was this process gradual or was there a rapid shift? Furthermore, how does the evidence for monetary introduction in Shetland contribute to the metallist/chartlist debate about the origin of money (Baron and Millhauser 2021). It is likely that archaeological researchers will benefit from working with historians and economic anthropologists. Access to coin collections in local and national museums, as well as private collections, is likely to be vital, as well as working with and advising local metal detectorists on recording methods. In a developer-funded context the value of post-excavation work and scientific dating in order to maximse information from material remains needs emphasising.

SIRFA SH117: Were fishtraps a widely used technology throughout Shetland’s past?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH117
More information:
Currently, only a handful of fishtrips have been positively identified across Shetland. Fishtraps are found widely across other parts of Scotland’s coast, associated with a range of dates. What period do Shetland’s fishtraps date to? Why are there so few known fishtrap sites across Shetland’s coastlines? Was this because fishtrapping was not widely practiced across these islands, or is there is preservation or research bias at play? What might the lack of fishtrap evidence suggest about coastal changes, cultural practices, diet, resource exploitation and land management throughout Shetland’s past? New, targeted survey work, including both coastal and submerged remains, is likely to be key to addressing these questions, alongside reassessment of existing survey data and analysis of palaeoenvironmental resources to better understand coastal change over time. It is possible that new methodologies will need to be developed to more effectively address these questions. Ethnographic and historical research might also be valuable. In a developer-funded context, the relevance of coastal and underwater/submerged survey work and the significance of palaeoenvironmental remains need to be emphasised.

SIRFA SH120: Where were Shetland’s prehistoric production sites?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH120
More information:
It is reasonably well recognised that there is a lack of known prehistoric settlement sites across Shetland. What is less well acknowledged, however, is the lack of information on economic activity and production locales beyond the well-established felsite industry. Where were food products and other materials produced and manufactured during prehistory? How did these places relate to settlements? What methodologies can be developed to increase the number of known production and other economic activity sites? Have researchers previously been looking in the wrong place? Or are these site of an ephemeral, temporary and/or seasonal nature that renders them largely invisible? If these sites can be located, what defined and characterised Shetland’s prehistoric economic activities and production? Like felsite, is there evidence that materials and resources were exported from Shetland during prehistory? It is expected that these questions will be addressed primarily through survey techniques, remote sensing, use of digital mapping as well as walk-over surveys. Developing new techniques for identifying sites is encouraged as well as evaluating existing data is likely to be fruitful. Developer-funded work has significant potential in revealing new and previously under investigated landscapes. The value of walk-over survey in these contexts and archaeological monitoring during the removal of overlying deposits has already been proven to produce highly valuable information about Shetland’s past. The ability of developer-funder work to fill substantial knowledge gaps needs emphasis.

SIRFA SH126: What new methods can be developed to mitigate Shetland’s poor conditions for bone preservation?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH126
More information:
A significant challenge for researchers interested in Shetland’s archaeology is the dominance of acidic soils across the archipelago, where the survival of bone material is substantially reduced. These environmental conditions result in limited datasets of human and animal remains. Poor bone survival has implications for how we tackle a wide range of research questions, traditionally addressed through faunal analyses and human osteoarchaeology; this includes questions about past burial practices, diet and health, environment, animal husbandry, etc. How can this be mitigated? In the absence of substantial faunal assemblages and human remains, what alternative sources of evidence can researchers turn to in order to understand people, animals and environments in the past? Furthermore, what methodologies can be utilised (or developed) to maximise knowledge and understanding from these alternative remains? Techniques suggested here include, but are not limited to, aDNA and soil DNA. Shetland’s challenging preservation environments provides optimal case studies for researchers to test and develop new approaches. This is a broad and wide-ranging question and is unlikely to be answered with a single research project; it is encouraged that a series of projects (or PhDs) are designed to tackle it.

SIRFA SH128: For how long did Shetland’s prehistoric populations retain mobile or semi-mobile lifestyles?

More information on this question
Local framework numbering:
SIRFA SH128
More information:
Given minimal evidence for prehistoric settlements across Shetland, there is a lack clarity on exactly when permanent settlement fully replaced mobile or semi-mobile lifestyles within these islands. For how long did itinerant lifestyles persist across Shetland? Were some populations still mobile or semi-mobile throughout Shetland’s Neolithic and into the Bronze Age? If so, what proportion of the population was itinerant? Did itinerant communities live alongside permanently settled populations? If so, what was the relationship between these groups of people? Relatedly, when and how did hunter-gather lifestyles give way to agriculture and pastoralism? Was this a rapid process or, for example, did itinerant hunting slowly give way to elements of nomadic pastoralism and transhumance? Given that permanent settlement is a dominant feature of Neolithic communities elsewhere in Scotland, perhaps most impressively illustrated in the nearby Orkney islands, why might mobile or semi-mobile lifestyles have persisted so much later in Shetland?

Leave a Reply