ABSTRACT

Little is known about the impact that Norse communities had on the landscape of Orkney. To redress this, a palaeoenvironmental investigation was conducted from the infilled Loch of Tuquoy, a basin located close to the high-status Norse farmstead and Crosskirk at Tuquoy on Westray, Orkney. Pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, microscopic charcoal, sediment geochemistry and mineral magnetic measurements were performed on a 2.25 m core. The results suggest that a cultural landscape had already been established before the Loch's record commenced. The landscape was subsequently characterised by the near-continuous activity of a mixed agrarian economy that intensified from c. 900–150 cal. BC, and between cal. AD 700 and 1550, the latter encompassing the Norse occupation of the Tuquoy farmstead. Palynological evidence suggests that the land was used for pasture and to cultivate cereals. While the landscape was largely treeless from 900 cal. BC onwards, minor woodland/scrub clearance occurred in both periods. The Norse palaeoeconomy seems to have been a continuation of earlier practices but caused a significant change in the source of sediments deposited into the loch. Whilst the sediment geochemistry revealed little evidence for ironworking, lead concentrations show a series of peaks during the Iron Age on Orkney indicative of regional-scale pollution.

摘要

人们对北欧社区对奥克尼岛景观的影响知之甚少。为了解决这个问题，对填充的 Tuquoy 湖进行了古环境调查，该湖位于奥克尼州韦斯特雷的 Tuquoy 的高地位挪威农庄和 Crosskirk 附近。在 2.25 m 的岩心上进行了花粉、非花粉孢粉、显微木炭、沉积物地球化学和矿物磁性测量。结果表明，在湖的记录开始之前，已经建立了文化景观。随后，该景观的特点是混合农业经济的近乎持续的活动，这种活动从c开始愈演愈烈。900–150 卡。BC 和 cal 之间。公元 700 年和 1550 年，后者包括挪威人对 Tuquoy 农庄的占领。孢粉学证据表明，这片土地被用来放牧和种植谷物。虽然从 900 cal 开始，景观基本上没有树木。从公元前开始，两个时期都发生了轻微的林地/灌木清除。北欧古经济似乎是早期实践的延续，但导致沉积在湖中的沉积物来源发生了重大变化。虽然沉积物地球化学显示几乎没有铁加工的证据，但铅浓度在奥克尼的铁器时代显示出一系列峰值，表明存在区域性污染。北欧古经济似乎是早期实践的延续，但导致沉积在湖中的沉积物来源发生了重大变化。虽然沉积物地球化学显示几乎没有铁加工的证据，但铅浓度在奥克尼的铁器时代显示出一系列峰值，表明存在区域性污染。北欧古经济似乎是早期实践的延续，但导致沉积在湖中的沉积物来源发生了重大变化。虽然沉积物地球化学显示几乎没有铁加工的证据，但铅浓度在奥克尼的铁器时代显示出一系列峰值，表明存在区域性污染。