Writing and the Vikings

What kind of writing did the Scandinavians see when they came to The British Isles in the 8th century and onwards? What kind of literacy did they bring back home? How and when did those who remained on the islands adopt the local literacy?

This workshop will bring together an interdisciplinary group of researchers studying Viking Age Britain from different perspectives, in order to address these questions. Our aim is to start a dialogue about the different contexts in which Norse people who came to The British Isles met with writing practices, or saw the results of such practices.

The workshop has been initiated by the BRuM project Between runes and manuscripts (University of Oslo), in cooperation with Judith Jesch and The Centre for the Study of the Viking Age. Between runes and manuscripts is a project focusing on the Norwegian Roman-alphabet inscriptions of the Viking and Middle Ages. The earliest Norwegian manuscripts as well as the earliest coins show Anglo-Saxon influences. We want to explore to what extent also Norwegian epigraphy was influenced by impulses from The British Isles.

The types of sources that will be presented to set off the discussions are Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon runic inscriptions, coins, Roman inscriptions, manuscripts, and medieval Roman-alphabet inscriptions (c. 700-1100). Speakers will include Gareth Williams (British Museum), Elisabeth Okasha (Cork), David Parsons (Aberystwyth), Elise Kleivane (Oslo), Johan Bollaert (Oslo), Neil Christie (Leicester) and Judith Jesch (Nottingham). Get a poster with the programme here.

The workshop is open for all who are interested.  Welcome!