Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 01.01.1943, Page 42

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the Jarðabók. As a matter of fact, tlie number of tlie ancient farms on Hruna-
mannaafréttur has been reduced to 5, Stangarnes, Rógshólar, Mörþúfur,
Laugar and Þórarinsstaðir (cf. map on p. 47), of wliich the first one is still
somewliat doubtful.
1. Stangarnes. A powerful tradition about farm ruins, preserved in tlie
Jarðabók of 1709, is the only evidence of ancient habitation in this place.
Now it has been completely laid waste by the strong wind, no soil whal-
ever being ieft, and tlie existence of a farm there cannot l)e definitely
proved any more.
2. Hógsliólar. Some scattered stones is all that remains of Rógshólar
farm, tlie existence of which is beyond doubt. Nothing will ever be known
about tlie type of liouses there. Finds of ancient objects are more abundant
in this place than the others, which probably indicates a longer period of
habitation. Among the tliings is a bronze broocli like Rygli 665 or 669, a
lragmentary horseshoe and some horseshoe nails (Fig. 1). The brooeh dates
back to the lltli century.
3. Mörþúfur. This farm was situated somewhat iiiglier up along tlie little
river Stangará. As lale as 1885 it was possible to count ruins of 7 different
houses in this place, hut since then they liave all been completely demolish-
ed by the river and all investigation is out of tlie question.
4. Laugar (or Laugahvammar). Here the remains of a large mediaeval
farm are still to be seen, examined in 1895 and 1897. Although in a pretty
bad state of preservation, the ruins rouglily show the original lay-out of
the farm-houses (Fig. 2). The two main liouses are placed end to end, 25
m long, 4,5 m wide, divided by a partition wall. The outer door leads to
one of tliese rooms, the skdli, but into the other one, tlie stofa, a door opens
through the partition wall. Beliind these houses there is á cowshed with
16—18 stalls and a barn, and at the entrance of tlie cowshed a little passage-
like stable for sheep. The cowshed is built in one with the dwelling. As a
whole the plan of the farm shows a close resemblance to that of Þórarins-
slaðir (see below). A little north of the farm-houses tliere are ruins of a
small house, whicli possii)ly is the church or chapel, to which tliere is a
vague reference in the Jarðabók.
At Laugar no real excavation can be done and very few ancient objects
have heen found there,the most important being one half of a grinding-sione,
some loom weights and a brass mounling of a bridle (Fig. 3, left), dating
back to the early middle ages. The scarcity of objects decidedly points to
a short period of habitation at Laugar.
5. ÞórarinsstaHir. This farm is situated east of Laugar, near a little
waterfall in Stangará. The place was visited by investigators in 1895 and
1897, when the ruins were even partly excavated by D. Bruun. Tliere was,
however, still much to be done, as the ruins were more or less buried under
lieaps of pumice grit and drifting sand and had obviously been undisturbed
ior a very long time. So tlie autlior started an expedition in tlie summer of
Í945 and had the whole farm with its outhouses excavated. It was clear,
tbat the farm had been covered witli a thick layer of wliite pumice grit