Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2010, Page 75

Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2010, Page 75
SMALL HOLDER FARMING IN EARLY MEDIEVAL ICELAND: SKUGGI IN HÖRGÁRDALUR supplement its own supply of domesti- cates with wild marine resources before it was abandoned around AD 1150-1200. A second explanation for the increase in especially marine species could be that Skuggi became more connected to the extended region and profíted from an exchange network, i.e. supplying meat, dairy, or wool in retum for físh and seal products, and possibly other goods being moved inland from the coast. Upon farm abandonment, the animal shelter at Klausturhús could have been utilized for tending to a sheep herd possibly raised for wool surplus production to be exchanged either at Möðmvellir or another site for eventual intemational export. At this stage in the research, it is not yet possible to point to specific independ- ent farms deciding over local and regional social and economic aspects with certain- ty, but an idea of possible connections emerges. Skuggi's proximity to local natu- ral resources, but its perceived inability to make use of those clearly indicates that the power stmcture was not an egalitarian one, but rather a hierarchy. One explanation for the emergence of a hierarchic power stmc- ture is that valley systems such as Hörgárdalur that were connected to Eyjafjörður offered a limited amount of pasture land and thus may have created a population density possibly not observed in plains and interior highland plateau set- tlements. A more densely populated area might have needed third parties to negoti- ate problems associated with little space between the individual fanns (Vésteinsson 2000:14-16). Skuggi as part of the Gásir Hinterlands and Eyjafjörður Ecodynamics project has raised some topics valuable for contem- plation and further investigation. Eventually, with more information and research about the long-term socio-eco- nomics of Hörgárdalur, a regional model may emerge and may aid a better under- standing of the role Gásir played in this area. More importantly, it may reveal whether and to what extent powerful farms were in control of the valley and the local and intemational market exchange, especially from AD 1200 on. Acknowledgments Thanks are due to generous funding provided by grants from the US National Science Foundation (Grants OPP ARC 0732327 and OPP ARC 0809033), and from Fomleifasjóður, Iceland (2008 excavation), and the CUNY Northem Science & Education Center. Special thanks go to Howell M. Roberts for a series of productive field seasons and his continued support, advice, and very generously shared data. Thanks to Elín Ósk Hreiðarsdóttir, Þóra Pétursdóttir, Guðrún Alda Gísladóttir, Mjöll Snæsdóttir, Garðar Guðmundsson, Orri Vésteinsson, Adolf Friðriksson, and all other helpfi.il people and ffiends at FSÍ; Bjami E. Guðleifsson, and Þóroddur Sveinsson from the Agricultural University of Iceland, and especially Jón Pétur Ólafsson, landown- er of Staðartunga and Skuggi. The author would like to thank the 2008-09 field teams, and all the special- ists contributing to this project. Special thanks to Professors Thomas H. McGovern and Sophia Perdikaris for their continuous support and advice, for offering access to and generous use of their NORSEC laboratories, and for their tremendous help discussing and disseminating the data. References Abu-Lughod, J. (1989) Before European hegemo- ny: The world system A.D. 1250-1350. New York: Oxford University Press. Albarella, U. (1997) ‘Size, power, wool and veal: zooarchaeological evidence for late medieval innovations’, in: G. De Bow & F. Vorhaeghe (eds.). Bruges: Institute for the Archaeological Heritage of Flanders. Papers of the 'Medieval Europe Brugge 1997'Conference volume 9, pp. 19-30. Albarella U. (2005) ‘Meat consumption and 73
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