There was certainly a need for strong women on the western seaboard of Scotland in the 10th century . While experts speculate upon the gender and identity of the Norse warrior-chief in the boat burial at Ardnamurchan, perhaps some thought might also be spared for the plight of the indigenous female population under siege? If fortunate enough to survive the Viking onslaught, women would have been taken hostage or forcibly removed from their homeland to become slaves, and traded across the Norse kingdoms from their slave-market in Dublin as far as the Middle East.