Finlaggan - Lords of the Isles 15thc

Finlaggan - Lords of the Isles 15thc

"In the late medieval period, Loch Finlaggan in Islay of the Inner Hebrides was an important power base. The two islands of Eilean Mor (or Large Isle) and Eilean na Comhairle (or Council Isle) on the loch were the site of a major residence of the Lords of the Isles, who governed the Hebrides and parts of mainland Scotland and Ulster. A complex of buildings spanned the two islands, connected by a causeway, and served as the administrative and ceremonial centre. Research has revealed the comfort and wealth of the area, with dogs wearing decorative collars, and the Lords and their followers enjoying music, imported wine and board games. The lordship was traditionally held by the MacDonald family, who rule stretched from Antrim in Ireland to the north east of Scotland. Drawing on the findings of the Finlaggan Archaeological Project, researchers at the University of St Andrews and Smart History have created a new digital reconstruction of Finlaggan as it may have appeared in the fifteenth century – in the latter phase of its medieval glory days. During this period, the Scottish kings were trying to reign in the influence of the MacDonalds. In the 1490s, for instance, James IV sent a military expedition to sack Finlaggan, destroying many of the buildings. The site subsequently sank into obscurity.

reconstructions

2018

image/png

Reconstruction

188

In Copyright (InC)

current,55.83562495529612,-6.172084716730537;

https://www.openvirtualworlds.org/finlaggan-1450/

https://player.vimeo.com/video/337511074

Open Virtual Worlds Team University of St Andrews

TEXT

https://canmore.org.uk/site/37708

A digital landscape was created using survey data and height map. Models were created in 3D modelling programs and imported into UNREAL (a cross-platform game engine for creating virtual worlds). The models were then scaled, orientated and assembled. The landscapes were populated with flora and fauna. Where applicable, models of characters and animals were imported and animated.

Since the early 1990s, the Finlaggan Archaeological Project (led by Dr David Caldwell), in collaboration with the National Museum of Scotland and the Finlaggan Trust, has been uncovering evidence of this site’s residential, administrative, and ceremonial significance. The archaeological work has been paired with documentary and material object research and comparison to other late-medieval sites.

David Caldwell (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland), Bess Rhodes (University of St Andrews)

Sarah Kennedy, Iain Oliver, Bess Rhodes, Catherine Anne Cassidy, Perin Westerhof Nyman, Alan Miller

1450