Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: hogback

King Sigurd of Norway is said to have converted Orkney around 996 AD, but it does not appear to have come under the control of the Roman church until the time of Adalbert, Archbishop of Hamburg (1043-72) In 1152/3, Nidaros (Trondheim) became an archbishopric and Orkney came under its ecclesiastical control. Thorkel Amundson, foster father of Thorfinn Sigurdsson (The Mighty) had a homestead in Deerness. According to the Orkneyinga saga Thorkel killed Rognvald in 1046. Excavations have uncovered a Viking settlement a short distance of the medieval church at Skaill in Deerness. The medieval parish church was taken down and rebuilt in late 1790s. The present church is the 1790s church, remodelled in the 20th century and by now is owned by "The Friends of St Ninian’s", formed in 2009 to save this church. The tombstone kept inside was found on the graveyard. It is a typical "hogback" made from red sandstone. It is dated to the late 11th century.

King Sigurd of Norway is said to have converted Orkney around 996 AD, but it does not appear to have come under the control of the Roman church until the time of Adalbert, Archbishop of Hamburg (1043-72) In 1152/3, Nidaros (Trondheim) became an archbishopric and Orkney came under its ecclesiastical control. Thorkel Amundson, foster father of Thorfinn Sigurdsson (The Mighty) had a homestead in Deerness. According to the Orkneyinga saga Thorkel killed Rognvald in 1046. Excavations have uncovered a Viking settlement a short distance of the medieval church at Skaill in Deerness. The medieval parish church was taken down and rebuilt in late 1790s. The present church is the 1790s church, remodelled in the 20th century and by now is owned by "The Friends of St Ninian’s", formed in 2009 to save this church. The tombstone kept inside was found on the graveyard. It is a typical "hogback" made from red sandstone. It is dated to the late 11th century.

After the Romans left, the north became a patchwork of warring Celtic tribes. In the 7th century, the region was invaded by the Angles, a Germanic tribe that moved westwards from Northumbria. From around 870, the area was colonised by Vikings from Dublin and the Hebrides and Danes from Yorkshire. Two Viking Age cross shafts and four hogbacks and a small cross found immediately west of St Andrew's Church, known as ‘Giant's Grave’ and ‘Giant's Thumb’ (c. 920), have long given rise to speculation. They appear to be an Anglo-Norwegian fusion of Christian, Celtic and Norse motifs. The grave was opened in the 17th century and revealed human remains, including very long leg bones and a sword. The grave could be the burial place of Owain ap Dyfnwal, King of Cumbria 920-937, but this is just one of several legends and speculations. One of the four sculpted hogbacks. These are stone carved Anglo-Scandinavian style sculptures from 10th- to 12th-century northern England and south-west Scotland. Hogbacks fell out of fashion by the beginning of the 11th century. Their function is generally accepted as grave markers.

After the Romans left, the north became a patchwork of warring Celtic tribes. In the 7th century, the region was invaded by the Angles, a Germanic tribe that moved westwards from Northumbria. From around 870, the area was colonised by Vikings from Dublin and the Hebrides and Danes from Yorkshire. Two Viking Age cross shafts and four hogbacks and a small cross found immediately west of St Andrew's Church, known as ‘Giant's Grave’ and ‘Giant's Thumb’ (c. 920), have long given rise to speculation. They appear to be an Anglo-Norwegian fusion of Christian, Celtic and Norse motifs. The grave was opened in the 17th century and revealed human remains, including very long leg bones and a sword. The grave could be the burial place of Owain ap Dyfnwal, King of Cumbria 920-937, but this is just one of several legends and speculations.

After the Romans left, the north became a patchwork of warring Celtic tribes. In the 7th century, the region was invaded by the Angles, a Germanic tribe that moved westwards from Northumbria. From around 870, the area was colonised by Vikings from Dublin and the Hebrides and Danes from Yorkshire. Two Viking Age cross shafts and four hogbacks and a small cross found immediately west of St Andrew's Church, known as ‘Giant's Grave’ and ‘Giant's Thumb’ (c. 920), have long given rise to speculation. They appear to be an Anglo-Norwegian fusion of Christian, Celtic and Norse motifs. The grave was opened in the 17th century and revealed human remains, including very long leg bones and a sword. The grave could be the burial place of Owain ap Dyfnwal, King of Cumbria 920-937, but this is just one of several legends and speculations.