Interim Field Report, Gasir Hinterlands Project 2008, Midden Prospection (field report)

In June and August 2008 international teams cooperated in carrying out a
program of survey, coring, and small scale test excavation on selected sites in
the Eyjafjord region in Northern Iceland. This was the first season of a planned
multi-season collaborative investigation of the hinterlands surrounding the
medieval seasonal trading center at Gásir (Roberts 2004; Roberts et al, 2002-
2006; Harrison et al 2006 – 2008; Harrison, 2006-2008). Prior work at Gásir
indicated that this trading center was provisioned from a wide economic
catchment area and that investigations needed to be extended to include the
surrounding landscape. The Gásir Hinterlands Project (GHP) is aimed at
improving our understanding of the interactions of local farming strategies
affected by changing climate and ongoing human impact with medieval overseas
trade and long distance exchange centered on Gásir. GHP also focuses on the
long term human ecodynamics in this historically important part of Iceland,
contributing to the reconstruction of a detailed historical ecology of Eyjafjord from
first settlement down to modern times. Part of the 2008 field project involved a 3
rd
season of excavation of midden deposits associated with the major monastic
center at Möðruvellir. The second part of the project consisted of coring and
selective test trenching of 9 sites in the surrounding valleys, building upon a
comprehensive site survey database (ÍSLEIF) already established by FSI. While
some sites tested proved to have little or no surviving household midden deposits
(Neskot, Skriða:NLÖ1, Klausturhús, Möðruvallasel), others proved to have rich
deposits quite possibly datable to the medieval and early modern periods through
tephra and associated artifacts (especially Skuggi, and also Myrkárdalur). Some
of the cored midden areas, i.e. Bakki, Skriða:NLÖ2, show great potential, if some Ramona Harrison Gásir Hinterlands Project–2008 Interim Field report
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logistical hurdles can be overcome. There appears to be great potential for
further excavations at both Myrkárdalur and Skuggi, and additional coring work
on other sites can usefully continue in the wider area.