Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents the most up-to-date international work on Viking camps and sets the ground for productive discussion and the advancement of the field. It explores Viking camps within their wider geographical and chronological contexts with a view to exploring their various functions and roles. The book also explores sites in Ireland, England, Sweden, Frankia, and Iberia, allowing the reader to understand the camp phenomenon from a comparative, more inclusive perspective. The combination of geographically bound case-studies and in-depth analyses of specific themes, such as economy and religion, bring together an abundance of methodologies and approaches. The book discusses some of the methodological foundations for future research on Viking camps, the armies inhabiting them, and their interaction with the surrounding world, contributing to a better understanding of the functioning of Viking expeditionary groups, both on campaign and during the early stages of settlement.