Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2005, Qupperneq 111

KÚVÍK.UR. An abandoned trading site
The Excavation
The midden, which was the main target
of the research, is on the eastem bank of
a small brook that runs through the min
area, towards the shore. This was the
center of activity in Kúvíkur, just above
the main landing area. The min of
Thorarensen's trading house is just
northeast of the midden and turf- and
stone-built walls of a byre just south of it.
This byre had a little living space on the
second floor, utilizing the warmth from
the cows. It seems likely that waste was
taken out the back door of the trading
house and carried to the midden. This is
the only midden visible on the surface on
site but presumably mbbish was also
taken down to the pier and thrown into
the sea. Down on the shore, a signifícant
amount of sea-polished glass and pottery
was retrieved but obviously all other
waste has disappeared.
The midden was measured and
tumed out to be 11 x 7.5 m on the sur-
face, narrowing slightly to the north. The
whole of the northwestem side was erod-
ed so the midden deposits were exposed
in an area just over 7 m long and up to 1
m high. When the trampled, horizontal
erosion face below was observed, it soon
Figure 5. The midden before excavation.
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