Dynamic beach response to changing storminess of Unst, Shetland:implications for landing places exploited by Norse communities

• Published in: The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology
• Main Authors: Preston, John, Sanderson, David, Kinnaird, Timothy, Newton, Anthony, Nitter, Marianne
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Coastal geomorphology; Coastal archaeology; Norse; Little Ace Age; Storms; Lunda; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/dynamic-beach-response-to-changing-storminess-of-unst-shetland(26aed33c-9f85-4af1-8b24-6701b023469c).html; https://doi.org/10.1080/15564894.2018.1555193

We present major new findings on the stability of Norse landing places on the island of Unst, Shetland, using a combination of geomorphology, OSL dating, fetch analysis, and sediment transport modeling. Islanders needed reliable access to the sea, and exploited sandy beaches as safe landing places....