Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2007, Page 84

MoGENS SKAANING H0EGSBERG
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Fig. 4. Plan of the church ruin which includes all foundation remains unearthed in 1926, including
the enclosure south of the church. Norlund ’s proposedphase 1 (Garðar 1) is superimposed in dark
colour. From Norlund 1930, 44.
Norlund to the conclusion that it had been
a bell house (Norlund 1930, 47—48).
Building no. 3, at the south side
of the enclosure, he also interpreted as a
bell house albeit tentatively. He regarded
this as a later addition to the compound,
erected at a time when the cathedral
had more bells. The square foundation
in the middle of the building could be
interpreted as the foundation for a pillar
which had supported a transverse beam,
carrying the bells. The interpretation as
a bell house was primarily based on the
finding of large quantities of bell metal
inside the room. Norlund also suggested
an interpretation as a chapter house, and
confessed that he was not certain of its
use (Norlund 1930, 54-55).
To the east of building no. 3,
building no. 4 seems to have replaced
an earlier building at the site. Norlund’s
interpretation here was also based on
the nature of the foundations rather than
on stratigraphic observations (Norlund
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