Skútustaðir Midden Investigations Mývatn Northern Iceland 2009 (field report)

Summary

In June-July 2009 an international team (led by Ágústa Edwald FSÍ and Tom McGovern CUNY)

conducted initial investigations of stratified midden deposits associated with the historic site of Skútustaðir in Mývatn

in NE Iceland. In 2007 a joint FSÍ/CUNY NABO team visited Skútustaðir following the discovery of a patch of eroding

midden by Arni Einarsson (Mývatn Research Station). Investigations in 2008 followed up on the 2007 results with a

set of test trenches. The three 2008 test units (D, E1&2, F) located midden deposits with excellent organic

preservation and multiple tephra horizons. Artifacts recovered and observed tephra indicate that the deposits

sampled in D extend from ca. 1717-1477, E1 & 2 have an early Viking Age deposit directly upon the Landnám

surface, and F revealed a very rich early modern midden deposit and an unexpected structural wall. The 2009

season saw a major expansion of the area D unit into two connected larger units G (13 sq m) and H (20 sq m). Unit G

was carried to lava bed rock, revealing an exceptionally productive Viking Age midden deposit packed into the natural

fissures and crevices. Unit H was left at the level of a previously undocumented mid-17

th

c. tephra surface, with

coring indicating at least 80-90 cm of additional midden remaining beneath. Large artifact and ecofact collections

were recovered from the early modern and Viking age deposits, with excellent conditions of preservation throughout.

A very successful expanded collaboration continued for a third season with the Hið Þingeyska fornleifafelag; local

Archaeological Association and the Litlulaugaskóli and Hafralaekjarskóli Fornleifaskóli barnanna/ Kids’ Archaeology

program. There is great potential at Skútustaðir for further archaeological investigation, education, and outreach. The

project is part of a larger NABO (North Atlantic Biocultural Organization) and IPY (International Polar Year) program

Human Ecodynamics in the North Atlantic, which works to coordinate international interdisciplinary projects in the

Shetlands, Faroes, Iceland, and Greenland (see www.nabohome.org).

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Christian Koch Madsen; Tom McGovern; Ágústa Adwald; FSÍ & U Aberdeen; Christian Koch Madsen; Christian Koch Madsen

Contributor(s): Christian Koch Madsen; Christian Koch Madsen; Christian Koch Madsen; Christian Koch Madsen

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