Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 03.01.1987, Page 20

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ÁRBÓK FORNLEIFAFÉLAGSINS
were imprints in the soil and a few particles of bone-dust. In about half the graves thc
bones were so poorly preserved that it was impossible to determine the positions of the
bodies. In most of the graves the hands of the deceased had been crossed approximately
at waist height, but in a few cascs the hands were folded on the chest. There was no cvi-
dence of crosses or other memorials. Whilc many of the graves visible in 1972 had con-
tained coffins, most of those investigated in 1978 appear not to have done. The original
depth of the graves is difficult to determine as so much of the topsoil has eroded. The
deepcst were about half a meter in 1978 and may not have been much deeper originally.
Nails were found in 3 of the graves investigated in 1978. No other objects were found
with the exception of a knife-blade at the foot of one and a small bit of iron over the
corpse in another. It is unclear whether these objects were placed in the graves deliberately.
Small amounts of charcoal were found in 6 of the graves.
At the east end of thc church there was a small pit containing ash and rubbish. On thc
edge of the western wall there were also the remains of two cooking-pits containing burnt
stones. On the site of the church’s eastern wall were thc remains of thc floor of a small
structure, measuring 4X2 meters. The rcmains of thc floor of another small building
could also be seen when excavation began in 1978. This building had stood in the south-
western corner of the graveyard. As so little remained of the floor and the graveyard
walls, it is not clcar how this building related to the graveyard.
The graveyard had obviously been in use over a long period of time, with repeated
burials - five in one instance - in more or less the same location. Unfortunately the poor
condition of the graveyard at the time of excavation greatly reduced the amount of
information provided by it. Nevertheless there seemed arnple justification for investiga-
ting the gravcyard as it was before excavation of the farm sitc itself began. Excavation
of the farm site began in 1979 and is now well under way. Thc upper part of the farm-
stead contains several layers of building remains and should provide a good picture of
building-typcs on this location over a long period of time.
Translated by: Matthew James Driscoll