Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.1998, Side 129

Ian A. Simpson, Karen B. Milek &
Garðar Guðmundsson
ARCHAEOLOGICAI, SEDIMENTS
AND SITE FORMATION AT HOF-
STAÐIR, MÝVATN, NE-ICEEAND
In order to investigate site formation processes at Hofstaðir, archaeological sedi-
ments at the site were studied and described in the field and samples were collected
for micromorphological and geochemical analyses. Results of these analyses will
contribute to archaeological interpretations about building techniques, patterns of
resource utilization, the ways in which space was used on the farmstead and within
buildings, and the living conditions within the buildings at Hofstaðir.
Ian A. Simpson, Department of Environmental Science, University ofStirling, Karen B.
Milek, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge and Garðar Guðmundsson,
National Museum oflceland, Reykjavík
Introduction
Sediments are dynamic natural bodies
whose properties reflect the environ-
ment in which they were formed.
Archaeological sediments associated
with settlement sites frequently conta-
in evidence of cultural history and can
therefore be considered as integral to
the archaeological record, with the
potential to make important contri-
butions to the interpretation of site
formation processes and past environ-
mental conditions. At Hofstaðir a
range of archaeological sediments have
been identified, including turf walls,
floor layers and midden deposits, with
Keywords: site formation processes, micromorphology,
turf construction, floor deposits, midden depositS
aeolian sediments evident above and
below the site. Field observations of
these sediments made during 1996
and 1997 have permitted the develop-
ment of a series of preliminary hypoth-
eses and interpretations about the site
formation processes active at Hofstaðir.
These hypotheses are set out in this
paper and provide a basis for the
identification of key questions and the
design of appropriate sampling strate-
gies that include thin section micro-
morphology supported by the geo-
chemical analysis of bulk sediment
samples.
Archaeologia Islandica 1 (1998) 129-142