Hrísheimar 2006, Interim report (field report)

Summary

In 2006 excavations in Units E and L cleared midden from

three structures dating to the early Viking Age, and completed excavations in the

southern half of the 2005 exposure (ca 50 sq m), taking this area down to the Landnám

tephra sequence (LNS). These structures are; C a sunken featured structure (pit house), D

a latrine, and S a shallow depression bounded by post holes possibly representing a very

early hut or tent structure. The establishment of

a secure chronology connecting all deposits at Hrísheimar excavated thus far (and

allowing precise correlation with layers at Sveigakot and Hofstaðir nearby) was a major

project objective for 2006 and will greatly increase the utility of all the Hrísheimar

collections for comparative analyses in years to come.

Geo-archaeology survey was made of the extensive bog area to the south of the site by

Dr. Ian Lawson (U Leeds) and Dr. Mike Church (U. Durham). Their results suggested

that this area had been far wetter and probably much more biologically productive in the

Viking age, with much more potential for the regular production of the iron pan which

probably provided the majority of the ore smelted at Hrísheimar. Small ponds and wet

meadows would also have been attractive habitat for nesting birds and freshwater fish

(Lawson et al 2005), as well as providing excellent grazing for domestic stock. Changes

in drainage patterns which eventually dried up the small stream passing through the site’s

homefield may also have affected the renewal and formation of the iron pan deposits.

Additional investigations of the bog and its surroundings are planned, and may shed more

light on the settlement history of Hrísheimar. Other environmental archaeology

investigations will continue in the coming year. Soil micromorphology samples were

taken for analysis by Dr. Karen Milek (U Cambridge) from both the midden and latrine

fill for further analysis. Very large whole soil samples (virtually 100%) were taken of the

latrine fill for further specialist study, and a special study of the iron metallurgy at

Hrísheimar will be carried out by specialists from Bradford University.

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