TALK: Revisiting the Violent Vikings
Thursday, March 5th 2026 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Shetland Museum and Archives
Twenty five years ago archivist Brian Smith wrote two articles about the arrival of Vikings in Shetland and Orkney. He questioned the idea, popular among archaeologists and some others, that the newcomers settled peacefully beside the existing population. He proposed that violence and even genocide might have played a key role in the new situation. Since then, other researchers have been offering new interpretations and viewpoints. Brian’s talk reviews the current state of the debate, and what it may tell us about Shetland’s early history, and the history of other places where Vikings arrived.
This free talk is being delivered in partnership with Archaeology Shetland.
Category: Lectures
