Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1998, Page 220

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HUMAN IMPACT AT TJØRNUVÍKIN THE FAROEISLANDS
the island of Eysturoy, revealed that do-
mestic animals were present at least 1370 ±
80 BP (Jóhansen, pers.comm. August,
1993). This calibrates to a calendar year of
AD 640-810 (1 a variation; CALIB vers.
3.0.3; Stuiver and Pearson, 1993) giving
further support for an early colonisation
date on these islands. An alternative expla-
nation for the lack of entomological evi-
dence indicating introduced herbivores at
Tjørnuvík, in what is called inorganic sedi-
ment (Buckland,1990), may simply be un-
suitable preservation conditions during the
earliest phase of settlement, as identified in
that study.
Our work shows that an early settlement
date must again be considered at this site,
and it is relevant to examine the palaeob-
otanical record on other Atlantic islands
during this time period. In Ireland, an up-
surge in farming activity at the beginning of
the Christian Period has long been record-
ed in many places (Mitchell, 1986). The
early timing of the first settlement at Tjør-
nuvík, corresponds to sharp rise in agricul-
tural activity in western Ireland (Molloy
and O’Connell, 1993; Ní Ghráinne, 1993;
O'Connell and Ní Ghráinne, 1994). At
Church Lough on the island of Inishbofin,
off the coast of Connemara, a pollen profile
with 8 bulk radiocarbon dates recorded the
start of this increase at the calibrated age of
AD 575. It was defined by a maximum in
cereal-type pollen, together with a suite of
weed taxa and high charcoal levels, indicat-
ing arable farming (Ní Ghráinne, 1993;
O’Connell and Ní Ghráinne, 1994). Fur-
thermore, according to historical records
(Neary, 1920), St. Colman founded his
monastery at this site in AD 665. Molloy
and O’Connell (1993) also provided good
palynological evidence at Derryinver Hill,
on the Renvyle penninsula, for an increase
in farming c. AD 680. Lour radiocarbon
dated profdes have allowed the reconstruc-
tion of the land use history on the peninsu-
la in considerable detail during the late pre-
historical and the early historical period. A
notable feature of the well-dated pollen
profiles, is increased farming activity after
a short phase of woodland regeneration,
named the late Iron age lull (Molloy and
O’Connell, 1993). In Connemara National
Park, renewed farming activity is dated to
c. AD 653 (Molloy and O’Connell, 1993).
Human activity also increased in the
Shetland Islands, prior to the first Norse
settlements. Bennett et al., (1992) reported
an increase in Hordeum-type cereals and
decrease in Betula woodland at Catta Ness,
associated with microcharcoal and sedi-
ment changes thought to be as the result of
erosion, dated to c. AD 500. There are no
such changes when the Norse are reputed to
have arrived at about AD 800, and so Ben-
nett et al., (1992 ) conclude that their agri-
cultural. practices were probably similar to
those of the previous occupants. This wide-
spread evidence of increased cultural activ-
ity prior to the written records of cultural
expansion gives further credence to the ear-
ly dates of settlement on the Laroe Islands
presented here.
Conclusion
The results up to now give support to
Jóhansen’s (1971; 1985) claims about sett-
lement chronology. The precise dating of