Identities home and abroad: An isotopic study of Viking Age Norway and the British Isles

Abstract

The overall aim of this project was to investigate social identities in Norway and the British Isles through isotopic analysis of diet and mobility. The results of the analyses showed considerable dietary variation amongst the comparative Viking populations, but also in Norway. A strong correlation was found between the emphasis on terrestrial food sources in inland areas, and marine diets in coastal regions; thus implying regional adaptation to available resources. The oxygen and strontium data showed considerable mobility in Trøndelag, and identified two women of non-local origins. The indication of mobility in the homelands is paralleled in the makeup of the presumed Viking armies in the British Isles; a result which may challenge the traditional interpretations of mono-ethnic migration models and sedentary populations in the Scandinavian homelands. The project has also highlighted a need for a better understanding of the processes of migration in the Viking diaspora, and of interaction between Scandinavian newcomers and the settled population in the British Isles.