Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1991, Page 106

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INSECT, MAN AND THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENT .
but, from the horizon regarded as equival-
ent to Landnám downwards, the deposits
were more organic and invertebrate fossil
preservation was better. Three 5 mm thick
slices, each of 3 kg, were taken from the
lower part of the section.
Despite the apparently consistent nature
of the pollen diagram (Jóhansen, 1979;
1985, pl. 7) and the sequence of radiocar-
bon dates, the varied preservational state
of the insect faunas from Uldalíð, with a
wide range of preservation evident in indi-
vidual samples, suggest extensive distur-
bance of the section. Some slope move-
ment is evident in the inorganic content of
the peat, which includes some gravel lens-
es and there is a clear break between the
lowest part of the succession, with less evi-
dent slope wash, and the remainder. The
insect faunal evidence, however, suggest
the probability of further biogenic distur-
bance. The indicators of eutrophic conditi-
ons, including large numbers of individuals
of Cercyon spp. and Megasternum obscur-
um (Marsh.), are present in all samples. It
is probable that these relate to wet, nutri-
ent-rich areas, the result of the activities of
puffins burrowing into the hillside, a situa-
tion presently evident at Lambi, where the
vegetation around the burrows is particul-
arly lush. The extent of disturbance on the
puffin cliffs, north of the modern farms,
which in the recent past has lead to sub-
stantial collapses, makes it seem unlikely
that Uldalíð has escaped similar attention
before and after the arrival of Man. On
balance, the fossil insect evidence cannot
be regarded as suitably stratified.
Tjørnuvík
The sampling site at Tjørnuvík on Streym-
oy lies at the head of a short, north facing
fjord at the north end of the island. Peat
growth appears to have begun as the result
of the development of a storm beach acr-
oss the head of the fjord and been main-
tained by subsidence. As a result, in excess
of three metres of organic sediments, with
intercalated silts and gravels from the
varying channels of the small stream which
enters the head of the fjord, have accumu-
lated, the area now forming the hayfields
of the adjoining settlement. The locality is
surrounded by steep slopes with outcrops
of basalt with little remaining soil cover.
The site has particular archaeological int-
erest in that immediately adjacent to the
sampling locality a group of pagan Viking
graves had been uncovered (Dahl & Ras-
mussen, 1956).
Jóhansen’s initial sampling in 1968 had
been by augering but the results were of
such significance that open profiles were
dug to obtain radiocarbon samples (Jóhan-
sen, 1971). The sampling locality, in the
hayfield south east of the settlement was
revisited by Jóhansen and Buckland in
1985 and a pit, 2 m by 1 m, nearly four
metres deep, was dug through the rather
unstable peat deposits, within two metres
of the original trench. Sampling was begun
just above the massive influx of inorganic
sediment which Jóhansen had shown on
the palynology to reflect Norse Landnám
and was carried down to below the earlier
inorganic horizon which had produced evi-
dence for barley cultivation. In addition,
sampling was continued in 10 mm slices
down for a further metre in order to obtain