Hadley, Dawn orcid.org/0000-0001-5452-5265 and Richards, Julian Daryl orcid.org/0000-0003-3938-899X (2016) The Winter Camp of the Viking Great Army, AD 872-3, Torksey, Lincolnshire. The Antiquaries Journal. pp. 23-67. ISSN 1758-5309
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary project that has revealed the location, extent and character of the winter camp of the Viking Great Army at Torksey, Lincolnshire, of AD 872–3. The camp lay within a naturally defended area of higher ground, partially surrounded by marshes and bordered by the River Trent on its western side. It is considerably larger than the Viking camp of 873–4 previously excavated at Repton, Derbyshire, and lacks the earthwork defences identified there. Several thousand individuals overwintered in the camp, including warriors, craftworkers and merchants. An exceptionally large and rich metalwork assemblage was deposited during the Great Army’s overwintering, and metal processing and trading was undertaken. There is no evidence for a pre-existing Anglo-Saxon trading site here; the site appears to have been chosen for its strategic location and its access to resources. In the wake of the overwintering, Torksey developed as an important Anglo-Saxon borough with a major wheel-thrown pottery industry and multiple churches and cemeteries. The Torksey evidence allows for a radical reappraisal of the character of Viking winter camps, and the legacy of the Viking Great Army for Anglo-Saxon England.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2016, The Society of Antiquaries of London. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (York) > Archaeology (York) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number THE BRITISH ACADEMY UNSPECIFIED SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF LONDON UNSPECIFIED |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 07 Nov 2016 15:24 |
Last Modified: | 21 Jan 2025 17:23 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003581516000718 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1017/S0003581516000718 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:107011 |
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