'The worst disaster suffered by the people of Scotland in recorded history'

Oram, Richard

doi:10.9750/psas.144.0223

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…There are also historic references to sea ice off Iceland during the thirteenth century (Ogilvie and Jónsson 2001) and proxy evidence for a marked drop in sea surface temperature off North Iceland around the middle of the century (Cunningham et al 2013;Massé et al 2008;Ran et al 2011;Sicre et al 2011). Throughout the British Isles, a very poor harvest in 1256 was followed by famine in 1257 (Oram 2015). In our reconstructions, 1256 is exceptional for both the Scottish Isles and Faroes because it comes at the end of 15 and 16 years, respectively, with CSDD below their LYI.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climatic controls on the survival and loss of ancient types of barley on North Atlantic Islands

Martin¹,

Brown

George

et al. 2023

Climatic Change

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For ancient types of barley at sites in the Scottish Isles, Faroes, and Iceland, we calculated minimum temperature requirements for grain production (grain production threshold, GPT) as accumulated degree days over the cropping season. Site suitability for barley from AD 1200 to 2000 was investigated by comparing these thresholds with reconstructions of annual cropping season degree days (CSDD) using temperature and tree-ring data. In Iceland, between AD 1200 and 1500, reconstructed CSDD were more favorable in the southwest (Reykjavik), with fewer years below the GPT, than in the North, East and West, but there were two periods (1340–1389 and 1426–1475) with low average CSDD and several years below the GPT which possibly influenced the abandonment of barley cultivation around this time. Reconstructed CSDD for the Faroes (Tórshavn) had only one year below the GPT, but 15 periods of four or more consecutive years with low CSDD which would have challenged barley cultivation, especially in the thirteenth century. Reconstructed CSDD were highest for the Scottish Isles, allowing a more prominent role of barley in the farming system and economy. Nevertheless, years with poor harvests or famines were common and about half were associated with low CSDD, resulting in a significant temperature link but also demonstrating the important contribution of other factors. Despite frequent unfavorable years in both the Faroes and Scottish Isles, resilient production systems, well-adapted barley strains and socio-economic factors allowed barley cultivation to continue, and some ancient types to survive to the present day.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climatic controls on the survival and loss of ancient types of barley on North Atlantic Islands

Martin¹,

Brown

George

et al. 2023

Climatic Change

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“…Hamilton & Thomas, 2012;Thór, 2015;Riddell et al, 2018). Oram (2014) suggests that at least 130,000 of a total estimated Scottish population of 500,000 died. Interestingly Richards et al (2006) suggest that there was an increased frequency of individuals with marine isotopic values implying a greater proportion of marine foods in their diets during the Viking and Medieval periods from data collated from Newark Bay on Orkney.…”

Section: Post Norse Ad 1350-modernmentioning

confidence: 99%

Later Prehistoric and Norse Communities in the Northern Isles: Multi-Proxy Environmental Investigations on Orkney

Timpany

Mighall

Foster

et al. 2020

Environmental Archaeology

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Despite being an important location in the Viking/Norse world, and containing a wealth of Norse archaeological remains, little is known about the impact that Norse communities had on the landscape of Orkney. To redress this, a palaeoenvironmental investigation of sediments was conducted from the infilled Loch of Tuquoy, located within 500m of 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 metre-deep core. The 2 results suggest that a cultural landscape was created before the Loch of Tuquoy record commenced and was characterised by the near-continuous activity of a mixed agrarian economy that intensified during two periods: c. 900 to 150 cal. BC and between cal. AD 700 and 1550, which encompasses the Norse occupation of the Tuquoy farmstead. Pollen evidence suggests that during both periods the land was used to cultivate barley and oats/wheat, as well as for pasture. While the landscape was largely treeless from 900 cal BC onwards, minor woodland/scrub clearance occurred in both periods.The palaeoeconomy of the Norse 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 found little evidence of possible ironworking, lead concentrations show a series of peaks during the Iron Age and Roman periods indicative of more regional-scale pollution.

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The 1310s Event

Slavin

2018

The Palgrave Handbook of Climate History

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'The worst disaster suffered by the people of Scotland in recorded history'

Cited by 5 publications

References 34 publications

Climatic controls on the survival and loss of ancient types of barley on North Atlantic Islands

Climatic controls on the survival and loss of ancient types of barley on North Atlantic Islands

Later Prehistoric and Norse Communities in the Northern Isles: Multi-Proxy Environmental Investigations on Orkney

The 1310s Event

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