Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2013, Page 64

MAGNUS HELLQVIST
information from each species found,
particularly when identifíed to species
level, but occasionally also when
identified only to genus level. Therefore,
when considering the interpretation from
sub-fossil insects, the low diversity
situation could be helped by increasing the
number of individuals of beetle remains
that support the actual interpretation from
particular species. Of course, other
available results such as macrofossil plant
remains and macroscopic studies of the
sampled sediments, when available,
would increase the certainty of the
interpretation. Nevertheless, the examples
from Hólar and the different indoor
situations presented here also display the
qualitative value of insect remains for
interpretation.
A typical taphonomic problem is
represented by the weevils Otiorhynchus
arcticus and O. nodosus, since they are the
most common sub-fossil insects remains
found in settlements and houses studied
elsewhere in Iceland as well as in Hólar.
They are very common in samples from
excavated houses, but as species are not
adapted or attracted to this environment.
The weevil O. arcticus is also the most
common current beetle species in Iceland.
The two species may be diffícult to
separate in species remains and may
occasionally be listed as Otiorrhyncus
arcticus/nodosus. However, they have
more or less similar environmental
requirements. Both species, O. arcticus
and O. nodosus, live on plants growing on
heather land or open grassland,
environments common in Iceland and in
the surroundings of Hólar. These species
are not synanthropic species and their
entry into buildings is determined by
human activity. The species are direct
indicators of the surrounding natural
environment.
There are several possible reasons for
their presence, and one likely origin for
these beetles is from shrubs and similar
plant material for floor covering that is
renewed during cleaning in the house. The
idea of covering floors with brushwood
has been described from, for example,
excavated buildings in Greenland, where
this habit was apparently one way to
prevent permafrost (Urbanczyk, 1999).
There is also evidence that this brushwood
was periodically shovelled out
(McGovem and Bigelow, 1984). Another
possible origin in an early stage of the
building phase is from building material,
especially in shmbs being used as roof-
covering material.
Another similar taphonomic issue is
represented by two beetles representing
the surrounding natural environment
found both in a former ‘kitchen’ and in a
room interpreted as printing house with
remnants of a former tiled stove. Both
rooms were interpreted with conclusions
supported by remains found during
excavation: in the ‘kitchen’ there were two
uncovered stoves, and remnants fforn the
printing press were found in the printing
house. In the ‘kitchen’, the ground beetle
Pterostichus strenuous was found, which
lives in the top organic layer or litter in
deciduous forests soils, such as birch
forests and in the drier parts of peat bog.
The other example was the diving beetle
Agabus bipustulatus, found in samples in
front of a tiled stove in the printing house.
The species lives in different types of
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