Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2013, Page 43

EXPLOITATION OF WILD BIRDS IN ICELAND FROM THE SETTLEMENT
PERIOD TO THE 1 9TH CENTURY AND ITS REFLECTION IN ARCHAEOLOOY
but it is unlikely that this is the first year
this type of good was exported. As quills
had already become common writing
implements in the early 7th century
(Hanson 2011, 234) it is not unlikely that
swan feathers had been exported for some
time, especially since their feathers were
considered a luxury item due to their
rarity. Quill pen production peaked in the
early 19th century but began to fade in the
middle of it with the arrival of the
mass-produced steel nib (Hanson 2011,
236-237).
Whole feathers thought to be quill
pens have been found in floor layers in the
Viðey monastery (13th to 15th c.;
Hallgrímsdóttir 1990, 126). Although
only bones from swans and geese seem to
have been found at the Skriðuklaustur
monastery (late 15th to 16th c.),
Hamilton-Dyer (2010,53) pointed out that
these birds were no doubt a vital source of
feathers for quills. And if the bird remains
from Kárahnjúkar mentioned above were
destined for Valþjófsstaður as has been
suggested the birds might have been a
source of feathers for quills as well. Quill
shavings and quill feathers have also been
found at Skálholt, which Einarsson (2012)
has identifíed as flight feathers from
swans, geese and/or possibly ravens,
along with possible contour feathers from
hens. Evidence of much smaller feather
remnants has also been found at Skálholt,
in floors excavated from the boys’
dormitory (figure 3). The feathers are
most likely remnants of feather quills or
brooms; although it is not impossible
some of the boys had feather duvets (Beck
2012).
Eider ducks and their
belly of gold
Hunting
In Iceland the Eider duck was mostly
exploited for its down but some also killed
them for meat. Owners of Eider colonies
frowned upon such practises as this
reduced down yields and in the case of
shooting scared away the birds (Jónasson
1945, 200-201; Ólafsson and Pálsson
1981, 36). Eider ducks were also trapped
in nets that were laid under water close to
the sea bottom and baited with lumpfish
roes, or trapped with multiple snares on a
long rope (most likely similar to what
Kristjánsson (1986, 258) calls
snœrisspeldi) buried in sand on the coast
line where the birds came ashore
(Jónasson 1945, 201; ÞÞ 6388). One
record was also found dating to the middle
of the 19th century (Sóknalýsingar
Vestljarða I, 175) that tells of the people
in Stagley in Breiðafjörður hunting
hundreds of Eider ducks at
Stagleyjargjögur in one trip.
Stagleyjargjögur is a natural shelter or
cave where thousands of Eider ducks
flocked together to fínd shelter from harsh
winter weather. The ducks were caught in
nets that were thrown over the ducks
where they were huddled in the shelter.
In general not much was found on the
hunting of other duck species in Iceland
but most likely they were also hunted with
some fonn of snaring or noosing or
perhaps rounded up in some way during
moulting (see e.g. Phillipps 1947 and
Mannermaa 2008, 68-70). Duck meat was
most likely prepared in a way similar to
other birds (table 1) although some of the
ducks seem to have been more appetizing
41