CACSS Postdoc wins Charlemont Grant

Dr. Rebecca Boyd, an IRC Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Archaeology, wins a prestigious Royal Irish Academy Charlemont Grant. Dr. Boyd will travel to Denmark later this year to work with Dr. Sarah Croix and Professor Søren Sindbaek on her project Early Urban Centres: Building Connections Across the Viking World. The 9^th century was one of upheaval and change across northern Europe, with the death of Charlemagne, waves of Viking raids, and the emergence of a new type of settlement – towns.

Recent excavations by Aarhus’ Northern Emporium project in Ribe uncovered new evidence for Denmark’s first town. The Charlemont award enables Dr. Boyd to explore comparisons between Ribe and Dublin, Ireland’s first town, famously founded by Vikings in the 9^th century. Dr. Boyd’s research connects Irish Viking archaeology to current research agendas concerning the emergence of urbanism, trade and social networks, and the beginning of the Viking world.