Geoarchaeology 20 (4)

Through the micromorphological analysis of cultural soils and sediments at Quoygrew, Westray, Orkney, the authors explore the characteristics of farming and fishing activity during the Viking Age--medieval transition period and establish their chronological relationships. The study demonstrates that intensification took place from c. AD 966--1162 on an already existing Viking Age settlement; that intensification of fishing activity occurred prior to the intensification of arable agriculture; and that the Quoygrew site continued throughout this period as an economically diverse permanent settlement. The authors argue that when viewed in a wider North Atlantic context, these findings indicate that intensification of different economic activities proceeded at different rates and that intensification of specialized economic activities during the transition from the Viking Age to the medieval period was dependent on existing knowledge of local environments.