Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2013, Page 42

SÓLVEIG GUÐMUNDSDÓTTIR BECK
and sometimes the larger swan feather
shafts were also used as straws or tooth
picks (table 1; Jónasson 1945, 196; Óla
1974, 142; Ólafsson and Pálsson 1981,
128; Horrebow 1966, 128; ÞÞ 6307).
According to Hanson (2011, 234-236)
quill pens had become a common
commodity in Europe in the early 7th
century. Primaries from geese were most
commonly used while feathers from e.g.
turkeys, eagles and crows were also used
on occasion. In Gilsfjörður, in the 19th
and early 20th century at least, primary
feathers from swans were collected along
the shoreline, washed and sun dried. The
feathers were sorted into bundles by type,
with 50 feathers of the same type in each
bundle. The feathers were then packed
tight in broad based bags and transported
to town on horseback. In 1914 about 15
thousand feathers were sold from the farm
of Gilsfjarðarbrekka alone. This was the
last year feathers could be sold due to the
influences of World War I (see also Roth
and Merz eds. 1997,362) but according to
Theodórsson, up until that time the farm
had more or less paid for itself with swan
feathers (Theodórsson 1936, 236-238).
According to Icelandic Historical
Statistics (Jónsson and Magnússon eds.
1997, 416-429) at least 22.000 swan
feathers were exported in 1733 but there is
no mention of goose feathers. Most likely
they were largely kept for the Icelandic
market. No written information is to be
had before that time regarding such export
Figures 3 - Feather shaft with barbs found in a micromorphology thin section from Skálholt, red
scale bar ~ 50 jim (Beck 2012, 25, taken by Sólveig G. Beck).
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