THEFT DURING THE LAIRDIC ERA 1707-1886 IS AN ARCHAEO-TEXTUAL PROJECT THAT EXCAVATES STORIES FROM SHETLAND ARCHIVAL RECORDS OF PETTY THEFT. THESE LEGAL RECORDS ARE SOME OF THE ONLY WRITTEN MATERIALS DOCUMENTING THE LIVES OF THE CROFTERS WHO LIVED DURING THE 179 YEARS OF FEUDALLY ENGINEERED SCARCITY AND SOCIAL CONTROL WITHIN THE SYSTEMS OF PROPERTY LAW AND LABOR COMPENSATION THAT WERE CREATED BY THE BRITISH RULING CLASS AND IMPOSED BY SHETLAND'S MERCHANT LAIRDS.