Collaboration: a-n Artists’ Travel Bursary 2016

Many of our new contacts suggested that we must speak to Brian Ayres AMA of the UEA, author of ‘The German Ocean, Medieval Europe around the North Sea’ to be published this autumn, ‘Norwich, Archaeology of a Fine City’, and contributor to ‘East Anglia and its North Sea World in the Middle Ages’ by David Bates and Robert Liddiard. We were fortunate to be able to discuss links between East Anglia and the Scandinavian countries re; material and cultural links through, archaeology, history, architecture and trading links. We learnt of many fascinating connections between place names, town plans and mapping, the significant role played by women under ‘Danelaw’ and new sites to explore whilst in Denmark such as Jelling, site of a 286 metre long ship setting. Brian also related fascinating stories of the journeys made by artefacts in the Middle Ages such as a 10th century fragment of silk found at Lincoln and York but made in Samarkand. We are grateful to him for sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge.