Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.1998, Page 74

Adolf Friðriksson & Orri Vésteinsson
FORNLEIFARANNSÓKNIR Á
HOFSTÖÐUM í MÝVATNSSVEIT
1991-1992
Forkönnun
In 1991 and 1992 preliminary investigations were carried out at Hofstaðir near Mý-
vatn in NE-Iceland. The aim was to find dating evidence for the famous long-house,
previously excavated in 1908, to determine whether it represents the only phase of
building at the site and to throw light on its function. After detailed surface mapp-
ing of the site in 1991 a 22x1 m trench was excavated through the northern end of
the long-house and through adjacent remains on its western side which had been
imperfectly understood in the previous investigation. A suite of tephra layers was
observed both above and below the archaeological remains which show that all
evidence of human occupation at the site occurs between the depostition of the
Landnám tephra in AD 871 ±2 and that of the H1 tephra in AD 1104. The floor of
the long house was dug down into the subsoil and is represented by a double layer of
pitch-black homogeneous material. A pit full of charcoal and iron-slag in the floor
suggests that iron working took place in the long-house, which in turn, along with
the small numbers of every-day objects recovered in this and the previous excavation,
suggests that the long-house was a domestic structure. Remains of a small building
adjacent to the long-house on the western side were observed as well as a wall of a
detached structure further to the west. Cultural layers were also observed beneath
these structures indicating that the long house is neither the only nor the earliest
structure at the site. A number of animal bones were recovered in a remarkably good
condition.
Adolf FriSriksson & Orri Vésteinsson, Bárugótu 3, 101 Reykjavtk
Keywords: Wiking Age, Temples, Farms
Inngangur
Árið 1908 var að Hofstöðum í Mý-
vatnssveit ráðist í umfangsmesta upp-
gröft á fornleifum sem gerður hafði
verið frá upphafi fornleifarannsókna á
íslandi. Grafið var upp úr stórri torf-
byggingu og lítilli, sporöskjulaga tóft
undir lágri brekku í túnjaðri á Hof-
stöðum. Töldu rannsakendur upp-
gröftinn hafa staðfest munnmæli um
að þar hefði staðið hof (Bruun & Finn-
ur Jónsson 1909). Síðar hafa fræði-
Archaeologia Islandica 1 (1998) 74-91