Loch na h-Airde Viking Dockyard - The 12th c. Viking Dockyard on Skye

Loch na h-Airde Viking Dockyard - The 12th c. Viking Dockyard on Skye

Intangible Heritage

Our Viking Dockyard reconstruction was part of an exclusive video ' Skye Story' created for the AROS Centre on Skye. Cupido started 1st of September 2018. As part of the 'Skye Story', we reconstructed various periods to tell the story of evolution on the island of Skye. The project's overall objective is to develop new business opportunities in the cultural and cultural heritage sector around the North Sea, to reinforce the economic position, competitiveness and social cohesion of local rural communities in areas with a declining population. CUPIDO intends to strengthen a viable and sustainable future economy, based on the social historic role and core qualities and values of the involved regions, cities and local communities. CUPIDO is co-funded by the North Sea Region Programme 2014-2020. The partnership has 14 partners from 7 regions in 6 countries around the North Sea. All in regions with an ageing population, due to both urbanisation and changing demography, and with municipalities that struggle to maintain a basic level of services and common functions. The new approach is to lift forward culture as a driver in local & regional development policies and to explore its potential. Culture in the context of CUPIDO is cultural activities (art, dance, music) as well as cultural heritage. The project's overall objective is to develop new business opportunities in the cultural and cultural heritage sector around the North Sea, to reinforce the economic position, competitiveness and social cohesion of local rural communities in areas with a declining population. The project intends to strengthen a viable and sustainable future economy, based on the social historic role and core qualities and values of the involved regions, cities and local communities. CUPIDO is mainly about the commercialisation of the cultural sector that contributes towards creating vibrant, sustainable rural municipalities/communities that attract people to live, work and enjoy life. The project offers its partners an opportunity to jointly share resources, knowledge and expertise to commercialise the cultural sector. It enables insight into new business approaches, stimulates the development of products and services, and aims at an average of five new start-ups per area and support to existing SME's. Follow CUPIDO in social media #cupidoNSR.

reconstructions

2019

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Reconstruction

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In Copyright (InC)

current,57.160833,-6.309444;

https://www.openvirtualworlds.org/viking-dockyard-on-skye-800/

https://player.vimeo.com/video/407549036

Open Virtual Worlds Team University of St Andrews

TEXT

https://canmore.org.uk/site/11028

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.

In 2000, archaeologists discovered boat timbers in the loch dating to c.1100, including part of a bite (internal frame) from a Norse-style faering (clinker). Most evidence of historic vessels in Scotland is from Norse boat burials, making this finding extremely important. A 2009 archaeological study sponsored by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) identified a stone-lined canal and quays. This was followed by an aerial survey of the area in 2011, again by HES, which provided more information on the canal and dockyard. The scale of the site suggested that it was an important site on the western coast. Comparisons to the harbour and boat remnants from Laig on Eigg reinforce the Norse link, but also highlight the uniqueness of the Loch na h-Airde docks. A late 16th-century account by Timothy Pont further testified to the importance of the Rubha an Dunain peninsula.

Cailean Maclean, Ann Marie Reid (Highlands and Islands Enterprise), Donald MacDonald (AROS Centre).

Sarah Kennedy, Iain Oliver, Alan Miller (Open Virtual Worlds)

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