Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 01.01.1992, Page 45

VITNISBURÐUR LEIRKERA
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Against this documentary background the archaeological evidence is surveyed, with spe-
cial reference to the pottery. Most of the imported goods mentioned in medieval documen-
tary sources are highly perishable and do not leave much behind as an archaeological record.
It is also clear from the archaeological evidence that a number of goods not mentioned in the
sources were imported from the time of settlement. These include articles made of steatite,
whetstones, bone combs, weapons and objects made of precious metals.
No pottery kilns have been discovered in Iceland and so far all the pottery found has
proved to be imported. The material consists of a great variety of types and ranges in date
from the 12th or 13th century to the 20th century. Only a small fraction of the material can be
dated to the medieval period and it is this small group which is surveyed in the article.
Although many of the pieces are small and difficult to classify, the following types have been
identified: Scarborough ware (BÞH 27:472, Fig. 2.), Grimston ware (Gásar EPrh 4-17 and STB
1972:Lf 45), and a further sherd of eastern English origin (Þjms. 13880, Fig. 3). A mottled
green lead glazed piece with an applied strip of diamond-shaped rouletting on the outside
(V-52609, Fig. 4), identified as Rouen ware. A green-glazed sherd of grey fabric with a round
embossed decoration (V-52659, Fig. 5), either of Dutch or English origin. Unglazed pottery of
black, coarse and micaeous fabric, with primitive stabbing decoration on top of the simple
out-turned rim and neck (V-55552 etc., Fig. 6). It bears some resemblance to pottery from the
Baltic of 12th or 13th century date, also found in Denmark and Sweden. Part of the slack
shoulder of a large greyware vessel with black slip on both sides (KÚB 3114, Fig. 7), probably
a Dutch storage vessel of 14th or 15th century date.
Among the stonewares are small fragments of jugs identified as Langerwehe and dated to
the 14th century (Gásar D-Prh.3-63; E-Prh. 4-11; GAV 1979:167, Fig. 8). A brown-glazed sherd
with roulette pattern (Þjms. 11229, Fig. 9), known as Dreihausen or Waldenburg and dated to
the 15th century. A number of sherds belonging to tall and thin Siegburg ware jugs or
beakers of the 15th century (Fig. 10).
The largest group of pottery found in Iceland is the redwares, most of which are of post-
medieval date. Many of the sherds belong to tripod pipkins or cauldrons with one straight
handle or with one or two round ones. These could be of either Dutch, Danish or northern
German origin. A few redware sherds of medieval date have, however, been identified.
These include a bodysherd of a jug of 13th century date (V-54210+ll, Fig. 11), of Dutch or
Danish origin. The rim of a Dutch jug from Utrecht dating to c. 1400 (KÚB 5040, Fig. 12). The
best part of a tripod, found at a trading place which was in use between the 14th century and
c. 1600 (Fig. 13). A fragment of an inverted rim of a 15th century pot (RKH 89:310, Fig. 14). A
round handle pinched together where it meets the rim, identified as belonging to a Dutch tri-
pod of 15th or 16th century date (K 4473, Fig. 15).
A few pieces of 16th century French wares have been identified. These include some frag-
ment (SKH 91: 30) identified as Saintonge, probably belonging to a large storage vessel (fig.
16) and the spout og a Martincamp type II flask (STB 79: 162; 80: 577, fig. 17).
Pottery is notably absent on the earliest farm sites in Iceland as it is on many sites else-
where in Scandinavia during the Viking period. The reason for the apparent taking over of
steatite as material for vessels in the Viking world is unexplored. Lack of fuel in these north-
ern areas may have made it an attractive raw material, but the inclusion of Norway in the
picture calls for an additional explanation. Locally made pottery has been found e.g. at the
Udal in the Hebrides and in the Faroe Islands, dated to the late Viking period, and on a num-
ber of sites in Shetland, dated to the 12th and 13th centuries. Locally made pottery from nei-
ther period is found in Iceland or Norway which begs the question whether these two coun-
tries had a special relationship within the North Atlantic, as has been suggested by Reidar
Bertelsen.