A Small Archaeofauna from Context 714 Þingvellir (Thingvellir), Iceland

Summary

In 2006 a small collection of animal bones (archaeofauna) was recovered from a pit fill from the farm and church site near the famous assembly site of Thingvellir in southern Iceland. The bone collection was from a pit (context 714) and was associated with pieces of hack-silver and three (?)silver coins of 11th century date. The analysis of the bone remains indicates that these were animal (not human) remains, and that sheep, pig, and a larger animal (probably cattle) were represented. The sheep and pig bones came exclusively from meat rich portions of the skeleton (shoulder and haunch) while the probable cattle bones appear to represent a segment of ribs and attached thoracic vertebrae. While the collection is small (88 bone fragments total) this pattern is suggestive of some sort of specialized deposit, especially seen in conjunction with the hack silver and coins.

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