Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2013, Page 44

SÓLVEIG GUÐMUNDSDÓTTIR BECK
than others. According to Horrebow
(1966, 129-133) Icelanders knew of at
least ten duck species in the 18th century
but teal and scaup were thought best for
eating. Bones of Eider ducks have been
found in coastal areas e.g. at
Finnbogastaðir in Ameshreppur (early
18th to early 19th century; Edvardsson et
al. 2004, 24), Bessastaðir in Álftanes and
Svalbarð (early llth century to the early
modem period; Hambrecht 2009, 20-22).
Two Eider duck bones were also found at
the inland site of Hofstaðir in
Mývatnssveit in a lOth to llth century
context which McGovem et al. (2006,
193) suggest must have been caught in
the lower reaches of the Laxá River, or
by the sea (see also McGovem et al.
2007, 43 and Lucas ed. 2009, 222-225).
At the medieval trading site at Gásir in
Eyjaljörður (14th century contexts),
Eider duck bones were one of the most
common fmds of all bird bones along
with guillemot bones (Harrison et al.
2008, 105-106) which could suggest that
the travellers made use of whatever was
on offer in the area without worrying
about their neighbours down yields,
although they could also have been
procured e.g. through some form of
exchange in the area. Even though little
was found on the hunting of ducks they
seem to have been exploited to some
degree (table 2) along with divers (Gavia
sp.) as early as the 9th and lOth centuries.
A few remains of Mallard (Anas
platyrhynchos), scaup and/or tufted duck
(Aythya sp.) bones were found in the
Mývatn district in lOth-llth century
contexts e.g. at Hrísheimar, Hofstaðir
and Sveigakot (McGovem et al. 2007,
43; Lucas ed. 2009, 222-225) as well as
at Bessastaðir (time period unclear) and
Svalbarð (early 1 lth century to the early
modem period; Hambrecht 2009, 20-22)
and Skútustaðir (9th c. to early modem
period; Hicks 2009, 22). Mallard remains
have also been found at Gásir (14th c.
contexts; Harrison et al. 2008, 106), in
Aðalstræti 10 (late 17th-early 18th
century), Bessastaðir, Skálholt (17th and
18th c.; Hambrecth 2009, 7 and 20-22)
and Skriðuklaustur (late 15th to 16th c.;
Hamilton-Dyer 2010, 4) but only in very
small amounts. Barrow's goldeneyes
(Bucephala islandica) have been found
at Hofstaðir and Hrísheimar (lOth c.
contexts; Lucas ed. 2009, 222-225) and a
Red-breasted merganser (Mergus
serrator) was found in Skúmstaðir (post
1717 period; Hicks 2009, 22). A few
bones from the Slavonian grebe
(Podiceps auritus) were found in lOth
and llth cenmry contexts at Sveigakot
(McGovern et al. 2007, 43) and
post-1717 contexts at Skúmstaðir (Hicks
2009,22). A few diver species (e.g. Great
northem (Gavia immer) and Red throated
divers (Gavia stellata)) have been found
at Sveigakot and Hrísheimar in
lOth-llth century contexts and finally
the Common scoter (Melanitta nigra)
was found at Hofstaðir also in a lOth
century context (Lucas ed. 2009,
222-225). If ducks were ever hunted in
any significant amounts for trade or
exchange for feathers and/or meat it is
not unlikely they would have been
transported whole like the ptarmigan and
therefore no clear evidence of such
activity would be detected at the site of
dispatch.
42