Akurvík NORSEC 15 1 A 15 th c Archaeofauna from Akurvík, an early Fishing Station in NW Iceland

This is a report of analysis of 15th c bone materials from the site of Akurvík in NW Iceland
excavated in 1990. A small international project in Árneshreppur district recovered a series of
stratified midden deposits associated with small turf structures on an eroding beachfront.
Radiocarbon dates identify at least two major phases of occupation and use, one extending
into the mid 13th century, and the other dating to the mid 15th century. This report documents
the animal bone collection from the later 15th c occupation. Dominated by cod fish, these
deposits appear to be the product of seasonal fishery carried out from small temporary
“booths” and are clearly not the product of a normal medieval Icelandic farmstead. Clear
zooarchaeological signatures for cod and haddock preserved fish production are evident and
comparisons are drawn to later 18th c contexts. Whale bone was extensively used in
construction and craftwork, but it is unclear whether active whaling was carried out from the
site or if stranded carcasses were extensively scavenged. Seals and sea birds provided minor
supplement to the station and shellfish were probably mainly collected for bait.