A recent archeological find in Þjórsárdalur valley in South Iceland reminds us just how much of the history of Viking Age Iceland is still shrouded in mystery. Several items, including a Thor's Hammer amulet, were discovered at a previously unknown farmstead. The farm is believed to have been abandoned after an eruption in Hekla volcano.
Destroyed by Hekla
A catastrophic eruption in Hekla in the year 1104 destroyed numerous farms in Þjórsárdalur valley. The thick ash and tephra deposited by the volcano left previously prosperous farmlands uninhabitable. Historians had knowledge of 20 different farms which were abandoned following the eruption. The number is up to 21 following the most recent find.
Read more: Archaeologists discover Thor's Hammer amulet at previously unexplored site in S. Iceland
One of the farms abandoned after the 1104 eruption was Stöng. The excavated ruins of Stöng are located in Gjáin, a beautiful forested gorge, only accessible by Stangarvegur Road no 327. The farm was reconstructed in 1974 further to the south, close to the main road through Þjórsárdalur.
Þjórsárdalur was once one of the most prosperous farming regions in Iceland. Farms were located deep in the valley on the edge of the Central Highlands, but repeated eruptions in Hekla, topsoil erosion and sand blown from the highlands undermined farming in the valley. One by one the farms were abandoned.
21st known farmstead abandoned in 1104
The farm, which was discovered earlier this month, was found by Bergur Þór Björnsson, from Skriðufell which is the innermost farm still occupied in the valley. Bergur told the National Broadcasting Service RÚV that his great grandfather, who was also a farmer at Skriðufell, had located the 20 farms known to have been abandoned after the 1104 eruption. Skriðufell was acquired by the Icelandic Forestry service in the mid-20th century and used as a base for soil-reclamation and reforestation of the valley.
I felt there was a curiously long distance between known ruins in this area, and so I just went looking, he told RÚV. Bergur identified what he believed to be an ideal location for a farm, a small hill with two streams running on either side. When archeologists arrived at the scene they could immediately see that Bergur was right: The foundation of a Viking Age longhouse were clearly visible in the ground, as well as various other remains.
Unique Thor's Hammer amulet
In addition to the items the Thor's Hammer amulet, a whetstone, needle and buckle, the archeologists found a fireplace with pieces of animal bones, clear signs of iron-making and a piece from a soap-stone cauldron. The cauldron, which was 40 cm (x in) in diameter, was imported from Norway.
The amulet is perhaps the most fascinating of these items. It is one of only two Thor's Hammer amulets ever found in Iceland and the only such amulet carved out of stone to be found anywhere in the world.
Further exploration of the site has yet to be scheduled.
A recent archeological find in Þjórsárdalur valley in South Iceland reminds us just how much of the history of Viking Age Iceland is still shrouded in mystery. Several items, including a Thor's Hammer amulet, were discovered at a previously unknown farmstead. The farm is believed to have been abandoned after an eruption in Hekla volcano.
Destroyed by Hekla
A catastrophic eruption in Hekla in the year 1104 destroyed numerous farms in Þjórsárdalur valley. The thick ash and tephra deposited by the volcano left previously prosperous farmlands uninhabitable. Historians had knowledge of 20 different farms which were abandoned following the eruption. The number is up to 21 following the most recent find.
Read more: Archaeologists discover Thor's Hammer amulet at previously unexplored site in S. Iceland
One of the farms abandoned after the 1104 eruption was Stöng. The excavated ruins of Stöng are located in Gjáin, a beautiful forested gorge, only accessible by Stangarvegur Road no 327. The farm was reconstructed in 1974 further to the south, close to the main road through Þjórsárdalur.
Þjórsárdalur was once one of the most prosperous farming regions in Iceland. Farms were located deep in the valley on the edge of the Central Highlands, but repeated eruptions in Hekla, topsoil erosion and sand blown from the highlands undermined farming in the valley. One by one the farms were abandoned.
21st known farmstead abandoned in 1104
The farm, which was discovered earlier this month, was found by Bergur Þór Björnsson, from Skriðufell which is the innermost farm still occupied in the valley. Bergur told the National Broadcasting Service RÚV that his great grandfather, who was also a farmer at Skriðufell, had located the 20 farms known to have been abandoned after the 1104 eruption. Skriðufell was acquired by the Icelandic Forestry service in the mid-20th century and used as a base for soil-reclamation and reforestation of the valley.
I felt there was a curiously long distance between known ruins in this area, and so I just went looking, he told RÚV. Bergur identified what he believed to be an ideal location for a farm, a small hill with two streams running on either side. When archeologists arrived at the scene they could immediately see that Bergur was right: The foundation of a Viking Age longhouse were clearly visible in the ground, as well as various other remains.
Unique Thor's Hammer amulet
In addition to the items the Thor's Hammer amulet, a whetstone, needle and buckle, the archeologists found a fireplace with pieces of animal bones, clear signs of iron-making and a piece from a soap-stone cauldron. The cauldron, which was 40 cm (x in) in diameter, was imported from Norway.
The amulet is perhaps the most fascinating of these items. It is one of only two Thor's Hammer amulets ever found in Iceland and the only such amulet carved out of stone to be found anywhere in the world.
Further exploration of the site has yet to be scheduled.
