A Pawn of History

The Shetland Islands are situated midway between Scotland, Denmark, and Norway geographically, culturally, and historically. Settled by the Norsemen in the ninth century, ruled by Denmark when Norway was conquered by the Danes, the Shetlands were pawned to Scotland by the Danish king in order to raise money for a dowry. Norn, a variant of old Norse was spoken here until the late 17th century when it was supplanted by Scots. The people still celebrate their Norse ancestry as evidenced by the half-scale Viking longboat in the harbor which was built for a festival. Discovery of North Sea oil has brought the Shetlands new prosperity servicing the rigs.


Bressay Lighthouse
Coming into Lerwick harbor we pass "The Knab."

Lerwick harbor

Shetland pony with admirers.
Seals were enjoying the beach
Leading from the harbor area are several very narrow stairstep "streets".

Shetland wool is famous
Marie got a nice warm sweater from the Hoswick Woolen Mill

Clickimin Broch, just outside Lerwick, is an example of the dozens of iron age forts found in the Shetlands.
Peat bogs provide fuel for the locals. There had been a long dry spell in the Shetlands which dried out the peat bogs and when the drenching rains did come it washed the peat off the underlying rock.
In Shetland place names, a Voe is a narrow, sheltered bay, while a broader bay, such as this, is a Wick.

Jarlshof Archeological site

At the southern end of the main Shetland Island (named "Mainland" for some reason) is a well preserved settlement going back to the bronze age. Sir Walter Scott decided to call it Jarlshof. It was mostly buried under sand dunes until a storm uncovered the old walls. Beach erosion over the centuries has destroyed part of the walls.


The aerial view in the visitors center shows the early round dwellings along the beach, the remains of the Viking long house in the back, and the Scottish manor in the middle.
The 16th century manor house
A bronze age structure.

A storage pit
Chambers of an iron age wheelhouse.
Formerly covered entrance to a late iron age earthhouse.

Medieval farm buildings by the manor house.
Bronze age structures.
Part of the Broch (iron age fort.)

Viking slate tablet
Mold for a bronze vial.
A Hnefatafl board