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Tradition about the Finn folk; Norse place-names and the set...

Date
Track ID 55205
Part 1
Part 2

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1986.35.AG

Original Tape ID

SA1986.035

Summary

Tradition about the Finn folk; Norse place-names and the settlement of Shetland.

Although the Shetland dialect has almost disappeared, most place-names are of Norse origin. Practically every knowe [hillock] in the landscape has a Norse name.

Geordie Gear had a croft not far from Eswick called Finnister that was said to be connected to the Finns. The Finns were supposed to come to Shetland by kayak a long time ago, probably before the Norse settlement, which was about the seventh century. The Norwegian settlers grew in number till they were even raiding Norway, only to be subdued by King Harald Fairhair.

Item Notes

During the Little Ice Age of the late 17th century, some Eskimo kayaks are known to have been driven off course and to have reached the Northern Isles. These became associated with traditions, inherited from Scandinavia, of the mysterious Finns.

See:
'Antiquity' 28:110 (Ian Whitaker, 'The Scottish Kayaks and the "Finn-men"', 1954) pp. 99-104

Recording Location

County - Shetland

Island - Shetland Mainland

Parish - Nesting

Village/Place - Eswick

Item Location

County - Shetland

Island - Shetland Mainland

Parish - Nesting

Village/Place - Finnister

Language

English, Scots

Genre

Information

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good