Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2010, Qupperneq 81

Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2010, Qupperneq 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 79
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Archaeologia Islandica

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