Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 01.01.2012, Qupperneq 80

79INNRAUÐAR LOFTMYNDIR Í FORNLEIFARANNSÓKNUM
Summary
Research both in Iceland and abroad, shows that infrared aerial photographs are
superior to other forms of aerial photography. Despite that, they have not been used
much in archaeological research in Iceland and their research potential has not been
considered. The aims of this research were to examine the potential value of using
color infrared aerial photographs. First, to determine whether they could be used
to locate archaeological remains: those which were already known, those which had
not been recorded, and those which were completely unknown. Second, the aim was
to determine whether or not aerial photography was useful for understanding the
function of earthworks and cropmarks over time. These features were classified by
their appearance and remains.
The areas chosen for the research was two upland, tributary valleys of Skagafjörður
in northern Iceland, Austurdalur and Vesturdalur. The settlement patterns of the
valleys was investigated, using written resources and aerial photographs.
In total archaeological features were examined at 55 farms. In some places no
remains were discovered but in others there were up to 23 separate visible ruins.
First the features were mapped by the normal color aerial photographs and then
by infrared aerial photographs. The total amount of archeology found was doubled
when mapping with the infrared photographs and some features were discovered
that had not been found in the field. The infrared aerial photographs also proved
to be useful in determining the possible function of the archaeological features and
the settlement pattern. Written sources show that in the fourteenth century many
farms were deserted. By examining the aerial photographs it becomes clear that
from then on the two valleys had different settlement patterns. In Austurdalur many
abandoned farms were used as shielings or for sheep grazing by occupied farms but
in Vesturdalur few farms were reused. The reason for this difference was most likely
changes in the quality of the land.