Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2006, Page 19

The idea of landscape in Icelandic archaeology
through time and humans’ relationship
with the environment (cf Sigurður Þorar-
insson 1974).
Sveinbjörn Rafnsson with Sig-
urður Þorarinsson carried out a study of the
settlement in Hrafnkelsdalur and the west
valleys of Brúardalir, similar to Sigurður
Þorarinsson’s work in 1974 (Sveinbjörn
Rafnsson 1990). This study also expand-
ed on Fortida gardar i Island project
and anticipated the techniques used later
in the Farm abandonment in medieval
and post-medieval Iceland project (see
below). Similar techniques were used but
with less emphasis on large scale exca-
vations and more on survey with small
test pitting. It also combined historical
information, aerial survey and scientific
dating. The study showed that there was
variation between the valley areas, show-
ing a complex patterning of abandonment
and growth: In Hrafnkelsdalur 5 settle-
ments out of 20 in total could be dated as
being occupied after 870 and abandoned
by 1158, 11 occupied after 1158 and not
abandoned, and 4 established after 1477
and still occupied. In Brúardalir 3 settle-
ments out of 16 were occupied after 870
and abandoned by 1158, 3 occupied after
1158 and not abandoned, 8 established
after 1477 and still occupied. Hrafnkels-
dalur had more settlement in total and
was colonised more completely at an ear-
lier date than Brúardalir.
Guðrún Sveinbjamardóttir’s study
of farm abandonment in Eyjaljallasveit in
Rangárvallasýsla (southern Iceland),
Austurdalur and Vesturdalur in Skaga-
fjarðarsýsla (northem Iceland) and parts
of Berufjörður and Fossárdalur in Suður-
Múlasýsla (eastern Iceland) had clear
landscape research objectives: “the role
of climatic deterioration, erosion, epi-
demics and economic factors in shaping
the Icelandic landscape” and perhaps one
that followed directly írom the founda-
tions laid down in the pan-Nordic study
on settlement desertion1 (Guðrún Svein-
bjarnardóttir 1984, summary; Gissel, S et
al. 1981). Although there is relatively lit-
tle information conceming Iceland in the
study, except general comments about
fourteenth century desertion and demo-
graphy, it nonetheless demonstrated the
potential for this type of integrated study
drawing on history, geography and archae-
ology, and those that were broader and
more holistic in their outlook concerning
landscape development and history. Guð-
rún Sveinbjarnardóttir’s was predomi-
nately based on documentary source
information leading towards hypotheses
on farm establishment and abandonment.
The study of farm abandonment was
nonetheless an archaeological study of
regional landscapes, that was combined
with environmental and tephra evidence
in explaining landscape change. In doing
so this study identified several likely fac-
tors that influenced farm abandonment,
including the human impact on the land
that increased erosion (since verified
through a number of studies e.g. Edwards
et al. 2005) deteriorating climatic condi-
tions, economic fluctuations and differing
human responses to these factors (Guð-
rún Sveinbjarnardóttir 1984, 178). Within
this study of special interest are the maps
which show a diachronic representation
of settlement establishment and abandon-
ment in each of the study areas (Guðrún
Sveinbjarnardóttir 1984, 48-49 (fig 8),
52-53 (fig 9), 69 (fig 18), 70 (fig 19),
109 (fig 43), 110 (fig 44)). Using dates of
Though this is not made explicitly clear in Guðrún Sveinbjamardóttir’s published study.
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