Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2011, Page 21

ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED SUBMERGED SITES IN VESTFIRÐIR
ceramics and unidentified iron objects. No
shipwreck was recorded in sampling area
C but talks with the local físhermen
revealed a possible wreck site close to
Flateyri but that still remains to be verified
(Fig. 7).
Steingrímsíj örður
Flveravík is a small bay on the northem
side of the Steingrímsfjörður ijord in
Strandasýsla. In the center of the bay is a
small peninsula, called Strákatangi, where
a 17th century whaling station has been
located. Archaeological excavations for
the past 5 years have revealed extensive
remains, cooperage, try-works, and storage
and crew quarters. The station is identical
to similar whaling stations excavated in
north Norway and Svalbard and was in use
until the late 17th century (Ragnar
Edvardsson 2008, 2009).
One sampling area was set up in
Hveravík and it included the whole bay east
of the Strákatangi peninsula. Tlie area was
approximately 300 x 700 square meters.
The survey used a side-scan sonar and
diving in selected areas. Selection of dive
sites was based on the sonar data (Fig. 8).
Area D. Hveravík
The sonar survey showed that the bay was
shallow on the west side but gradually got
deeper until the depth had reached about
30 meters on the east side. The depth on
the east side of the bay is consistent along
the coastline, making it an ideal place to
anchor large ships. It is likely that the
whalers anchored their transport ships in
Figure 7. Whalebones in situ in Önundarfjörður.
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