The shielings (Irish airghe , Mannois eary , literally “pasture of summer”, Welsh hafod ) were dwellings built in the British Isles at the time Viking (about the year 1000). The term shieling probably comes from the norrois skáli (“hut”, “shelter”). One essentially finds the remainders of these habitats in the insular zones, like the Hébrides or the island of Man.

The shielings were regarded as temporary constructions. They were inhabited only in a seasonal way. The summer, the men went there with their herds.

History

The shielings are rustic dwellings, generally built in altitude. Some were high on the prehistoric remainders of Cairn S, as with Buaile Maari (parish of North Uist). The summer, from the inhabitants of the valleys and the plains came to live approximately eight weeks there, of June to August with their herds, which found a fattier Herbe there. In addition to this lifestyle made it possible the animals to profit throughout the year from a food from quality, displacement towards the shielings the summer supported also pushes back it grass in the lowlands, in the absence of the animals.

The presence of many shielings in the zones of altitude lets suppose that these areas were given at that time natural resources richer than today.

Localization

Many a toponyms Scottish, Irish and mannois has a relationship with the shielings. Among those appear inter alia:

• Airigh Sheilich (“Shieling of the willow”), Cashel (Ireland).
• Curragh Na Aary (“Marsh of the shieling”), Marown (island of Man).
• Tom Na h-Airidhe (“Hillock of the shieling”), Glen Fruin (Scotland).

Appendices

See too

• Transhumance

External bonds

• '' The Shielings '', incallander.co.uk
• '' The Summer Shielings '', Common Eachdraidh Nis.

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