Vikings in the North Atlantic –
major award comes to Aberdeen University
The University of Aberdeen has been awarded substantial funding for an innovative, interdisciplinary research programme. Nearly £1.25 million has been given as part of a major project grant from the Leverhulme Trust to Professor Kevin Edwards of the Department of Geography and Environment and the University’s Northern Studies Centre.
The grant will provide funding for research into the human and ecological consequences of Viking settlement in the North Atlantic region (the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland). The award resulted from a UK-wide competition within the theme Long-term settlement in the ancient world.
Professor Edwards said that he was delighted that Aberdeen had been successful and received this major award.
“This magnificent level of support from the Leverhulme Trust will enable a high resolution and comprehensive investigation of what happens environmentally and socially when a group of people – in this case the Vikings – colonise ‘pristine’ landscapes.
“Using the fossil evidence preserved in natural and archaeological occupation deposits, together with historical documents, we have an unrivalled opportunity to examine the long-term effects of settlement in environmentally-sensitive areas.”
Professor Edwards is the principal investigator in this five-year, multi-institution study and will be assisted by co-applicants Professor Paul Buckland, University of Sheffield, Dr Andrew Dugmore University of Edinburgh, and Dr Ian Simpson, University of Stirling. There will be close collaboration between researchers from 12 disciplines in 10 countries, particularly with Professor Thomas McGovern, City University New York, and Dr Guðrún Sveinbjarnardóttir, University College London/National Museum of Iceland.
Further information from:
Angela Begg, Media Relations Office, University of Aberdeen,
Telephone: (01224) 272960, fax: (01224) 272086, or email: a.begg@abdn.ac.uk
Professor Kevin J Edwards, University of Aberdeen, Department of Geography and Environment
Telephone: (01224) 272346, fax: (01224) 272331, or email: kevin.edwards@abdn.ac.uk