The Mosfell Excavations: Viking Archaeology in Iceland

Summary

This is an abstract from the "The State of the Art in Medieval European Archaeology: New Discoveries, Future Directions" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Presents recent findings of the Mosfell Archaeological Project (MAP) in Iceland’s Mosfell Valley (Mosfellsdalur). Reviews excavations at Leiruvogur Bay at the coastal mouth of the valley and at Hrísbrú, the farmstead of the Mosfell chieftains. These two Viking Age sites formed a 10th century Icelandic harbor and inland (hinterland) administrative unit. MAP is a large interdisciplinary archaeological project, employing the tools of history, anthropology, environmental sciences, forensics, botanics, and saga studies. We research human adaptions, social development, and environmental change in the Mosfellsdalur region. Sites extend into the surrounding highlands and at the lowland coastal areas. We define this geographic and social landscape as a "valley system," whose community took shape following Iceland’s 9th-century settlement. MAP is developing a concept of ‘Valley System Archaeology,’ especially suited to Icelandic and North Atlantic sites. I will focus on the Viking Age harbor at Leiruvogur, a finding that may adjust the early historical understanding of the Reykjavik area. The harbor connected the community to the wider Viking world. Finds include a well-preserved longhouse from Iceland’s settlement period, a pagan cremation site, a conversion-era stave church, an early Christian graveyard, and stone ship-like monuments. The mortuary practices show a mixed pagan and Christian community.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The State of the Art in Medieval European Archaeology: New Discoveries, Future Directions   •
• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 25615