Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 01.01.1965, Blaðsíða 61
KUML ÚR HEIÐNUM SIÐ
65
SUMMARY
Recent Finds of Viking Age Graves in Iceland.
This is a report on recent Viking Age grave finds in Iceland. In 1956 the author
published a complete survey of all such finds then known (Kristján Eldjárn:
Kuml og haugfé úr heiðnum sið á íslandi. Reykjavík 1956). In this journal 1957—58
he furthermore gave a report on three additional finds. The 19 new finding
places dealt with in this paper were in a very different state of preservation,
some graves being greatly damaged or destroyed by grave robbers or wind erosion,
whereas others were more or less intact. The following is a very brief description
of the finds with reference to the illustrations.
1. Hábœr, Djú'párhreppur, Rangárvallasýsla: The present day churchyard of
Hábær obviously was placed on top of a pagan burial field, a fact shown by
human bones and objects of Viking Age type which occasionally have come to
light there. No information is available as to the burials themselves, but from
time to time the three objects shown on fig. 1 have been unearthed in the
churchyard, a spear head, a battle axe and a shietd boss, the two last being
typical lOth century weapons, while the spear head with its two side knobs is
of a more uncommon form.
2. Kolsholt, Villingaholtshreppur, Rangárvallasýsla: Remains of a very badly
damaged grave, fragments of human bones, horse bones and some rusty bits of
iron.
3. Selfoss, Sandvíkurhreppur, Árnessýsla: On the building grounds of the
village Selfoss two Viking Age graves were found in 1958 and 1962 respectively.
In grave 1 a middle-aged woman had been buried, lying outstretched on the back,
orientation NE-SW, head in the SW end. The only gravegoods seem to have
been one or two pouches containing small things such as a glass bead, a sea snail,
some strikingly curious small stones and a few bits of iron. As to grave 2 see G.
Gestsson’s report on pp. 69—74 and English summary there.
4. öndveröarnes, Breiöavíkurlireppur, Snæfellsnessýsla: See Þ. Grímsson's
report on pp. 78—84 and English summary there.
5. Miöhóp, Þorkelshólshreppur, Vestur-Húnavatnssýsla: On this spot road
builders too late became aware of the existence of a Viking Age grave. Of the
gravegoods nothing was spared except an oval brooch of the type Rygh 652
and 654.
6. Fremri-Svartárdalur, Lýtingsstaöahreppur, Skagafjaröarsýsia: In 1959 the
author investigated an old burial place in the remote mountain valley Svartár-
dalur in Skagafjörður in the North of Iceland. A fairly well preserved skeleton
of a middleaged woman had been brought out of order to such a degree that
nothing could be learnt about position or orientation. No gravegoods, but from
fhe general appearance of the grave and the nature of the locality it is con-
cluded that the burial is from heathen times.
7- öxnadalsheiöi, Akrahreppur, Skagafjaröarsýsla: In 1962 the author exca-
vated a heathen grave near the road through the mountain pass öxnadalsheiði.
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