Skútustaðir Midden Investigations Mývatn Northern Iceland 2009 (field report)

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).