Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 01.01.1980, Side 117

EXCAVATIONS AT STÓRABORG, A PALAEOECOLOGICAL APPROACH
121
5. Plant remains (seeds) from the Stóraborg samples. — Plöntuleifar (Jrœ) frá Stóruborg.
stall or barn. The insect evidence is less decisive and the numbers of in-
dividuals too small for the use of the statistical comparative techniques sug-
gested by Kenward (1976), but the large number of feeders on fungi in rotting
vegetation — the Leiodid, Ptinid, Cryptophagids, Lathridiids and
Mycetopagid—-, as well as the large numbers of fly puparia, imply somewhat
unsavoury conditions, well summarised in a letter written in 1526 by Erasmus,
referring to a relatively prosperous household in Switzerland:
„Tum sola fere strata sunt argilla, tum scyrpis palustribus, qui subinde sic
renovantur, ut fundamentum maneat aliquoties annos viginti, sub se fo-
viens sputa, vomitus, mictum canum et hominum, proiectam cervisam et
piscium reliquias, aliasque sordes non nominandas. Hinc mutato coelo
vapor quidam exhalatur, mea sententia minime salubris humano
corpori.”*
Such insanitary conditions were widespread throughout Europe until relative-
*,,Generally, the floors are first spread with clay, then with rushes, and they are relaid so that
sometimes the lowest layer is left for twenty years. Under it, fester spit, vomit, dog and human
urine, spilt beer, bits of fish and other unpleasant things, which are better not mentioned. When
the weather changes, they give off a foul vapour, which 1 can hardly regard as good for
mankind.”
The authors are grateful to Dr. S. Esmond Cleary for this translation.