VIKING SETTLEMENTThere are 3 types of evidence for Viking settlement. In the case of Ireland, the Irish annals provide a little bit of information, as they record the establishment of the Viking Longphuirt , some of which later developed into towns and centres of kingdoms, but then again these tell us little of the early settlement process. Settlement patterns in Ireland are often referred to as 'Hiberno-Norse', this term reflects both their Scandinavian heritage and their adoption of Irish customs and practices. Their activity is limited to coastal towns, with little to no rural settlement.
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TOWN DEFENCESDefences are one aspect of Viking towns which
show a clear evidence of planning. Most
of these were situated at naturally defensive sites, at the angles of two
rivers, as was the case with Dublin or Waterford, or within the remains of Roman
walls, as was the case with York and Lincoln.
The Hiberno-Norse defences needed to be constructed from scratch. At both Dublin and Waterford, a series of
earthen banks topped by wooden palisades (or fences) were constructed, a
process which ended up in the erection of stone walls -those at Dublin dating
from the second half of the eleventh century, and those at Waterford built
perhaps fifty years later. Around the
early twelfth century the dún or 'fort' of Dublin was viewed as one of the
wonders of the world. At York the
townsfolk took advantage of the existing Roman defences, but they added to
these, and altered the layout to suit their own needs.
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TOWN LAYOUTWe know exactly where the Vikings founded their new town; the traditional location of Viking Dublin has been confirmed by archaeology. Running parallel to the south bank of the Liffey west of the confluence of the Liffey and the Poddle was a long narrow ridge approximately fifty feet high. Even to this day the sharpness of its incline can be seen in the steepness of the slope between Cork Hill and Dame Street, and the steep gradients at Fishamble Street, Werbugh Street and Nicholas Street. The ridge was probably covered with Hazelwood, which formed a spur which was beneficial from a defensive perspective. And just below it was the ‘pool’ of some sort, a spread of water at the base of a river which made a natural harbour where ships could be harboured. Dyflinn – the Norse variation of the location was ideal. At the western end of the ridge the highways were situated and the ford of hurdlework which had long given the area its strategic importance. The stronghold the Vikings built on the site of Dublin Castle not only had the best natural harbour, but dominated the comings and goings of Leinster travellers.
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Norse dublin
Dublin was first occupied by the Norsemen in 852/53 under Olf Hvitr ("the white") and Ivar Beinlaus ("the boneless") who landed in the Black Pool or Dubh-Linn and created a fort on the hill which later Dublin Castle was erected. A few miles up on the river on a fiord or creek they built an oppidium - an earthen bank surrounded by a stout palisade. The adjacent creeks would give shelter to their ships. Outside the town a mounted area was made for their dead and in some wood made sanctuary for Odin, Thor and Freya. After the death of Ivar Beinlaus in 873 Dublin fell once again into Irish hands. In 916 Ragnall and Sitriuc (supposed grandsons of Ivar) attacked Dublin. It was from this time that Dublin became a real town than that of a fortress, but one of the places best known to the Vikings as their piratical adventures or summer-farings, during which many a famous sea-king wintered in the pleasant climate by the Annaliffey and the Norse sagas must've been almost well-known in Dublin as that of Iceland.
Dublin appears to have been founded twice over by the Vikings; firstly as a Longport or ship fortress and secondly from about 917. The second town developed into a town probably during the second quarter of the 10th century and became known as a dún in Irish sources. The term dún (stronghold) in relation to Dublin appears in the records of 944. This could imply that a stronghold was built on the site, possibly in the vicinity of the present castle. The adjacency of a landing place for ships and a stronghold, constructed of wood, on higher ground is common for early trading in comparison with Lübeck on the western Baltic suggests
Dublin appears to have been founded twice over by the Vikings; firstly as a Longport or ship fortress and secondly from about 917. The second town developed into a town probably during the second quarter of the 10th century and became known as a dún in Irish sources. The term dún (stronghold) in relation to Dublin appears in the records of 944. This could imply that a stronghold was built on the site, possibly in the vicinity of the present castle. The adjacency of a landing place for ships and a stronghold, constructed of wood, on higher ground is common for early trading in comparison with Lübeck on the western Baltic suggests