Viking and Ecclesiastical Interactions in the Irish Sea Area from the 9th to 11th Centuries

Different approaches have been conducted to analyse the interactions of the different belief systems in the early medieval world. This book assesses the relationship between clerics and Scandinavian-influenced laity in the Irish Sea area through the placement of furnished graves at or near ecclesiastical sites in the ninth through the eleventh centuries. Other areas of funerary studies have moved beyond a dichotomy of Christianity and paganism, acknowledging that practices can be multifaceted. Yet, statements regarding Viking Age furnished graves in or near ecclesiastical sites are still not as pervasively open to this line of thinking.

To bridge this gap, this book delves into the historiography and context of the burial practices through multidisciplinary analysis. The ecclesiastical sites and furnished graves of the eastern (southwest Scotland and northwest England), central (Isle of Man), and western (Ireland and Northern Ireland) Irish Sea areas are then examined using various sources to understand their contexts and relationships. In the final chapters, the sites and graves are brought together to identify any trends, any unique circumstances that led to local variances, and their fit into the larger picture. Viking Age furnished graves can be seen as an acceptable variation among an array of burial practices, and the relationship between the clergy and laity is far more complex and closely tied than has been portrayed.

Viking and Ecclesiastical Interactions in the Irish Sea Area from the 9th to 11th Centuries will appeal to students and scholars alike interested in the history of the Vikings in the British-Irish Isles and their relationships with ecclesiastical institutions.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Contextualizing the Viking Age Furnished Graves

Chapter 3: The Eastern Irish Sea Area: Scotland and England

Chapter 4: The Central Irish Sea Area: Isle of Man

Chapter 5: The Western Irish Sea Area: Ireland

Chapter 6: Analysis

Chapter 7: Conclusion

Bibliography

Danica Ramsey-Brimberg is the Coordinator for Digital Engagement for the International Center of Medieval Art, a co-host of the podcast New Books in Irish Studies, and an assistant editor for the journal Church Archaeology. She graduated with her PhD in History from the University of Liverpool; her doctoral thesis is the basis for this book. She previously graduated from Boston College (BA in History with a Minor in Irish Studies, MEd in Secondary Education in History) and the University of York (MA in Medieval Archaeology) and has taught at the University of Liverpool and Roger Williams University.