Hrísheimar 2006, Interim report (field report)

In 2006 excavations in Units E and L cleared midden from
three structures dating to the early Viking Age, and completed excavations in the
southern half of the 2005 exposure (ca 50 sq m), taking this area down to the Landnám
tephra sequence (LNS). These structures are; C a sunken featured structure (pit house), D
a latrine, and S a shallow depression bounded by post holes possibly representing a very
early hut or tent structure. The establishment of
a secure chronology connecting all deposits at Hrísheimar excavated thus far (and
allowing precise correlation with layers at Sveigakot and Hofstaðir nearby) was a major
project objective for 2006 and will greatly increase the utility of all the Hrísheimar
collections for comparative analyses in years to come.
Geo-archaeology survey was made of the extensive bog area to the south of the site by
Dr. Ian Lawson (U Leeds) and Dr. Mike Church (U. Durham). Their results suggested
that this area had been far wetter and probably much more biologically productive in the
Viking age, with much more potential for the regular production of the iron pan which
probably provided the majority of the ore smelted at Hrísheimar. Small ponds and wet
meadows would also have been attractive habitat for nesting birds and freshwater fish
(Lawson et al 2005), as well as providing excellent grazing for domestic stock. Changes
in drainage patterns which eventually dried up the small stream passing through the site’s
homefield may also have affected the renewal and formation of the iron pan deposits.
Additional investigations of the bog and its surroundings are planned, and may shed more
light on the settlement history of Hrísheimar. Other environmental archaeology
investigations will continue in the coming year. Soil micromorphology samples were
taken for analysis by Dr. Karen Milek (U Cambridge) from both the midden and latrine
fill for further analysis. Very large whole soil samples (virtually 100%) were taken of the
latrine fill for further specialist study, and a special study of the iron metallurgy at
Hrísheimar will be carried out by specialists from Bradford University.

2006年，考古人员在E、L探方中清理了三座年代属于维京时代早期的建筑的生活堆积（midden），并完成了2005年发掘区南部半区（约50平方米）的发掘工作，将该区域清理至兰德纳姆火山灰序列（Landnám tephra sequence, LNS）层位。上述三座建筑分别为：C型下沉式特征建筑（sunken featured structure，又称坑式房屋）、D型厕坑（latrine），以及S型以柱洞为界的浅凹坑，其大概率为极为早期的棚屋或帐篷类建筑。
构建可精准关联赫里斯海马尔（Hrísheimar）遗址迄今发掘所有堆积层的可靠年代序列（并可与附近斯韦戈特（Sveigakot）和霍夫斯塔季尔（Hofstaðir）的地层开展精准对比），是2006年的核心项目目标之一；该成果将极大提升未来多年里赫里斯海马尔全部出土藏品用于比较考古分析的实用性。
利兹大学（University of Leeds）的伊恩·劳森博士与杜伦大学（University of Durham）的迈克·丘奇博士，对遗址南侧的大片沼泽区域开展了地质考古调查（geo-archaeology survey）。
调查结果显示，在维京时代，该区域的湿度远高于当下，且生物生产力显著更强，更利于常规形成铁盘层（iron pan）——这类铁盘层或许为赫里斯海马尔遗址多数冶炼用矿石的主要来源。
小型水塘与湿草甸不仅可为筑巢鸟类及淡水鱼类提供适宜栖息环境（Lawson等，2005），同时也能为家畜提供优质牧场。
最终导致流经遗址定居区的小溪干涸的排水格局变化，或许也对铁盘层的更新与形成产生了影响。
针对该沼泽及其周边区域的补充调查已在规划之中，相关成果或将进一步阐明赫里斯海马尔的定居发展史。
其他环境考古相关调查也将在后续年份持续推进。
剑桥大学（University of Cambridge）的卡伦·米莱克博士，将从生活堆积与厕坑填土中采集的土壤微形态样品（soil micromorphology samples）开展进一步分析。
考古人员还采集了近乎100%的厕坑填土完整土壤样品，用于后续专项研究；布拉德福德大学（University of Bradford）的专家将针对赫里斯海马尔遗址的铁器冶炼技术开展专项研究。