Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.2002, Page 29

EIN DANI OG BYRJANIN TIL FØROYSKA FORNFRØÐI
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in Klaksvík, where two farmsteads on March
12th 1765 were destroyed by an avalanche,
which cost the lives of nineteen people. This
has been one of the biggest tragedies ever
taking place in these islands, and there can be
no doubt that some of the lost persons were
burnt to death. It was the plan that Professor
Hatt in company with the chairman of the
Museum, the librarian M. A. Jacobsen,
should have travelled to Klaksvík the day be-
fore yesterday to make plans for the excava-
tion with Joensen, the sailmaker, of
Klaksvík. Due to the bad weather, however,
the trip had to be cancelled.
Yesterday Professor Hatt and librarian
M. A. Jacobsen were in Havnedal to exca-
vate the ruins of an ancient Fransahús, which
has been used as a refuge in times of unrest,
and M. A. Jacobsen was instructed about
how such an excavation is planned and con-
ducted. What was conducted here should be
described as a trial excavation. The idea then
is that librarian Jacobsen shall give direc-
tions and support al l'uture excavalions in
these islands, until a Faroese person has been
educated in archaeology.
There can be no doubt that various an-
cienl remains are liidden in the Faroese
ground, and it will be of very big importance
to the Museum, and of considerable histori-
cal and cultural interest, if these remains can
be brought into daylight. If excavations are
properly organised and conducled by skilled
men, we are convinced that it can expect fi-
nancial support from the Parliament as well
as other institutions’ (author’s translation
from Danish).
Fig. 17. Hans Jacob Jacobsen (1901-1987) - better
known by his name as an autlior Heðin Brú - was born
in Skálavík. He graduated from the Copenhagen
Veterinary College in 1928. In 1937 he was appointed
consultant to tlie Agricultural Council of the Faroe
Islands. He replaced, in 1942, Liitzen as agricultural
adviser, a position Ite held until 1968. Over the years
he held a number of honorary ojfices in various
organisations. From 1930 and onwards Ite published a
number ofhighly valued novels and collections of
short stories (Heinesen, 1981). Photo (probably from
tlie I920s): private, Barður Jákupsson.
Hatt’s photographs show what seems to be
an excavation well up to the standards of
the period. The ranging rods as well as the
information in the preserved correspon-
dence and Hatt’s notes clearly document
that levels were taken at the site, just as
planning and photographic documentation
were intended. To Jacobsen the opportuni-