FOR centuries it was part of a Norse empire, only becoming part of Scotland in the 15th century.
Its biggest festival involves burning a longboat, the local tongue is littered with Scandinavian words, and now Shetland is to become one of the world’s top centres of expertise on Vikings.
The Centre for Nordic Studies, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, has been awarded £17,000 by the Royal Society of Edinburgh to establish the Hjaltland Research Network. Hjaltland is the old Norse name for Shetland.
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