Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2009, Page 48

Richard E. Hughes and Gavin M. Lucas
Figure 3. Obsidian Artifacts from Hofstaðir. Specimens from left to rieht are as follows: <97-28>,
<98-lll>, <00-102> and <99-404>
sample 00-102 is a small chip/flake, with
evidence of minor edge crushing on one
surface. These obsidian artifacts clearly
were imported to the site; the basic
underlying geology at Hofstaðir consists
of basalt capped by c. lm of brown and-
isols developed through aeolian process-
es.
Use of lithic tools (typically from jas-
per, but also other materials such as
chalcedony, quartz and obsidian among
others) has been noted on other Viking
period settlements in Iceland where they
are most commonly interpreted as fire-
stones (i.e. struck against a steel to pro-
duce sparks; see Thorsberg 1994; Smith
2000). The function of the Hofstaðir
examples is diffícult to interpret -at least
one specimen displays unambiguous evi-
dence of edge wear (98-111), and two
have linear scratches on their surfaces
(98-111 and 97-028), suggesting that
they may be chips from firestones. Such
flakes typically exhibit steep retouch,
and may have scratches on their ventral
surface though the most diagnostic evi-
dence of that use is the presence of
minute particles of iron from the fire
striker (Curtis Runnels, pers. comm.).
Although obsidian is not well suited to
serve as a firestone (being relatively soft,
with a hardness of c. 5.5), in the absence
of harder quartzite/flint it may have been
used as such - the use of obsidian as
fírestones has been demonstrated in early
historic Greece for example (Runnels
1982; 1985). However, obsidian flakes
also could have served as expedient cut-
ting tools as their use (like other material
such as flint) is documented into the
European Iron Age (e.g. Runnels 1982;
Ford et al. 1985). Historically obsidian is
recorded has having various magical
properties so apotropaic uses also cannot
be discounted. Nineteenth century
Icelandic folklore records ‘nine good
and nine bad’ qualities of obsidian (hraf-
ntinna); among the bad are, that if kept
in the house, no one can be bom or die.
Among the good are, if kept in the
house, it cannot be bumt down; if some-
thing is stolen, the thief will be caught;
and if buried under a sheep house, it will
prevent hydatid disease (echinoccosis)
afflicting the sheep (Arnason 1956: 25).
The latter is particularly interesting in
the light of the context of one of the
pieces (sample 99-404) from Hofstaðir;
this was also the only piece which was
possibly unworked.
46