Tradition about the Finn folk; Norse place-names and the set...
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1986.35.AG
Original Tape ID
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
Parish - Nesting
Island - Shetland Mainland
Village/Place - Eswick
Item Location
County - Shetland
Parish - Nesting
Island - Shetland Mainland
Village/Place - Finnister
Language
English, Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good