Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2013, Page 36

SÓLVEIG GUÐMUNDSDÓTTIR BECK
Guillemot, (Uria sp.) and Little auk (Alle
alle), lOth-llth c.), Sveigakot (Gull sp.
lOth c.) and Selhagi (Murre or Guillemot
and Razorbill (Alca tordd), 12th c.) in
Mývatn district (McGovem et al. 2007,
43), at Skriðuklaustur in Fljótsdalur
(Hamilton-Dyer 2010, 4) and Skálholt
(Murre or Guillemot and Razorbill, early
modern period) in Biskupstungur
(Hambrecht 2009, 3 and 20-22).
In late July and early August all birds
of the family Anatidae (ducks, geese and
swans) moult their flight feathers and are
unable to fly (Hilmarsson 2000, 73).
Geese and swans are much larger birds
and can very often be found in large
groups during moulting either up in the
heath lands or down by the sea. Adult
swans were usually hunted while
moulting and the chicks just before they
íledged (figure 1). Swans were hunted in
many places all over Iceland (Jónasson
1945, 196; Pálsson 1945, 680;
Þorsteinsson 1951, 5; Guðmundsson
1959, 284; von Troil 1961, 84; Olavius
1965, 116 and 118; Horrebow 1966, 128;
Ólafsson and Pálsson 1981, 128,132, 138
and 321; JÁM IV, 258-259; JÁM VIII,
40; Sigurðarson 1986, 18; Sigurðsson
2001, 25; ÞÞ 6699). According to the 18th
and 19th century writings of Ólafsson and
Pálsson (1981, 128) and Jónasson (1945,
86-87 and 196) swans were usually
hunted on horseback, or on foot, along
with dogs (see also Pálsson 1945, 680).
The dogs were trained to bite the necks
but swans were also hunted with nets,
whips or they were simply knocked out
with sticks (see also Olavius 1965, 116).
Swan chicks were also hunted using a
small boat. The hunters would chase the
chicks until they were completely wom
out. Then they could simply be knocked
out or scooped up into the boat with a long
wooden pole with a hook on the end (table
1; Friðjónsson 1904, 22).
Figure 1 - Elías Jónsson, farmer at Aðalból
in Hrafnkelsdalur in 1901 (Bruun 1987, 52).
According to Ólafsson and Pálsson
(1981, 133 and 229) wild geese are so
wary and quick footed that they could
only be hunted on fast horses and this was
supposedly done in Breiðamerkursandur.
In Gullbringusýsla and Rangárvallasýsla,
Fljótshlíð and Landeyjar, geese were
trapped with nets and on a good day
100-300 birds could be caught at any one
time. According to an anonymous author
(1971, 7) passing migrants geese, e.g.
Brant geese, were hunted on the south