Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2010, Page 81

RECONSTRUCTING ASPECTS OF THE DAILY LIFE IN LATE 19TH AND EARLY
20TH-CENTURY ICELAND: ARCHAEOENTOMOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE
VATNSFÖRÐUR FARM, NW ICELAND
tices between individuals, farms and geo-
graphical areas. Archaeology provides a
means to examine how the transforma-
tions of the Early Modem Period influ-
enced the material lives of the Icelanders.
Questions relating to identity, sanitation,
health, consumption pattems, status, gen-
der, and ideology can be addressed with
the study of material culture, the built
environment and biological remains pre-
served in archaeological contexts from
latter periods (Hall & Silliman 2006;
Mrozowski et al. 1996). Thus, our under-
standing of past daily life in late 19^ and
early 20^ century Iceland benefits from a
holistic approach integrating archaeology
with the analysis of written documents
and ethnographic data.
In an attempt to contribute to this
understanding, archaeoentomological
reconstmctions of intra-site environmen-
tal conditions have been integrated to the
study of the remains of a 19^-20^ centu-
ry turf dwelling house at the farm of
Vatnsfjörður, in the Westfjords. We con-
sider the household as the level at which
social groups articulate directly with eco-
nomic and ecological processes (Wilk &
Rathje 1982, 617-618), and that the
actions and practices of individuals stmc-
ture and define their culture and daily
life, while also being stmctured by social
institutions (Hendon 1996; Samson
1990). Therefore, the interactions
between Vatnsí]örður‘s occupants, their
surrounding environment, and the rapidly
changing socioeconomic situation of the
19^ and early 20^ century should be
reflected in the organisation of their liv-
ing space, their domestic activities and
their living conditions.
The present paper discusses the main
fíndings of the insect analysis from early
modem Vatsnfjörður’s cultural deposits,
and attempts to examine how the daily
life of this particular household relates to
the broader political and economic
upheavals of late 19^ and early 201*1 cen-
tury Iceland. It also explores the potential
of archaeoentomology as a source of new
evidence for the study of the recent past
domestic practices and living conditions.
Farming and daily life in late
19th and early 20th-century
lceland
The rapid economic growth that charac-
terized the latter Early Modem Period in
Iceland was mainly instigated by the
mechanization of the fishing industry.
However, it did not only modify the lives
of Icelanders involved in the físheries,
but also those of Icelandic farmers.
Livestock farming was the dominant
agricultural activity in Iceland, and grain
cultivation was hardly possible due to cli-
matic and environmental limitations
(Eggertsson et al. 1987, 135). Thus, the
main crop was grass, providing pastures
and fodder for sheep, cattle and horses.
The meat and secondary milk products
provided by these domestic animals were
essential for subsistence farmers, and
also provided wool and skins needed for
clothing (Mead 1945, 138-139).
Thanks to the gradual liberalisation of
the Icelandic economy and the increase of
foreign trade in the 19^' century, the pur-
chasing power of the urban population
grew considerably and a domestic market
for agricultural products was created
(Karlsson 2000a, 291). The foundation of
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