Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2010, Page 97

RECONSTRUCTING ASPECTS OF THE DAILY LIFE IN LATE 19TH AND EARLY
20TH-CENTURY ICELAND: ARCHAEOENTOMOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE
VATNSFÖRÐUR FARM, NW ICELAND
tle and fly larvae, and also on meat
(Arnett Jr. & Thomas 2001, 393;
Campbell et al. 1989, 380). In Iceland, it
is often found in the dung of large mam-
mals (Larsson & Gígja 1959, 89).
The fauna associated with mouldy
hay
Three families contain species that may
be found in mouldy hay. Xylodromus is a
genus of the family Staphylinidae. In
Iceland members of this genus are synan-
thropic and are found in stables, cellars,
and food stores. They may also be found
in cultivated fields, but are particularly
common in decaying hay (Larsson &
Gígja 1959, 66).
Members of the Cryptophagidae fami-
ly (Fig. 7) feed on fungi, spores and
moulds, which are also often damp settings
(Amett Jr. et al. 2002,339; Campbell et al.
1989, 147). Cryptophagus distenguendus
and C. Pilosus are commonly taken in
stores (Woodroffe & Coombs 1961, 192),
and in Iceland they are mostly found in
accumulations of old decaying hay in sta-
bles and sheep bams (Larsson & Gígja
1959, 134-137). C. scanicus is also associ-
ated with hay, but is often found in fields
(Larsson & Gígja 1959, 136), while most
Atomaria species in Iceland live in build-
ings (Larsson & Gígja 1959, 138-142).
Taxa belonging to the Lathridiidae
family feed on íungi and spores, in stored
products, and indicate damp conditions
(Bousquet 1990, 129). In Iceland, species
from the genera Lathridius and Corticaria
are exclusively synanthropic, but they
have also been known to fly to adjacent
fields (Larsson & Gígja 1959, 144).
Results: Contextual
interpretations
Analysis of archaeoentomological
assemblages from five different contexts
dating from the late 19^ to the mid-20^1
century at Vatnsfjörður permitted the
reconstruction of environmental condi-
tions, storage activities, refuse disposal,
and the maintenance of floors inside the
building. The sanitary conditions in the
building were also evaluated, as well as
some elements of Vatnsfjörður’s sur-
rounding environment.
Figure 7. Heads andpronota o/Cryptophagus distinguendus (left), C. pilosus (center), and C.
scanicus (right). Found in S-510.
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