A new look at National Museums Scotland collections covering the period 800-1200: the fall of the Pictish kingdoms and rise of the Viking Age; the emergence of new players like Alba, Moray, Strathclyde, Galloway and the Norse Earldom of Orkney. Out of this turmoil were forged the roots of the kingdoms of Scotland and England.

National Museums Scotland houses one of the most significant collections of Viking-age and early medieval artefacts in the world. This book offers new perspectives on star objects which have been on display for decades, and on lesser-known artefacts which have never been seen in public, and shows these in photographs taken specially for third part of The Glenmorangie Company Research Project.

The previous two books coming out of the project are Early Medieval Scotland and Scotland's Early Silver.

About the Author

Adrian Maldonado is Glenmorangie Research Fellow at National Museums Scotland.

Reviews

' ... Maldonado has created an engaging and essential read for anyone with an interest in Vikings and the early development of Scotland.' Antiquity

' ... Written in an accessible style that is nonetheless full of interesting detail and thought-provoking theories and ideas, this is a stunning book for anyone interested in the early medieval period and the Viking age in these islands.' Archaeology Ireland

' ... I can think of no other work ion this period that can match the excellence of the 280 photographs and images, nor the skill with which they were selected and worked into the analysis across the book's 256 pages.' Current Archaeology

' ... Crucible of Nations succeeds in what was surely its primary aim, to assert the complexity of an oft-overlooked period, its significance in the formation of Scotland as a nation, and the potential for material objects to illuminate an understanding of this time.' Peregrinations

' ... The book is marvellous in terms of visual beauty itself but also in terms of Maldonado's lucid and imaginative approach. A talented communicator, his insight is that of a scholar of early medieval archaeology and material culture, but one well versed in some of the most up-to-date literature produced by text-oriented historians.' Early Medieval Europe

Book Information
ISBN 9781910682432
Author Adrian Maldonado
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint NMSE - Publishing Ltd
Publisher NMSE - Publishing Ltd
Weight(grams) 1199g
Dimensions(mm) 250mm * 240mm * 20mm