Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1999, Page 147

UM ELSTA FØROYSKA JARÐARBÝTIÐ
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flat stone with some kind of petroglyph in-
scribed into it. There was something that I
saw as an “M”. In front of it, but not so
clear, a line or an “I”. The carving was
overgrown with old lichen. How should
this “IM” mark be explained? It could be
the initials of some unknown person, but I
am more inclined to the possibility that it
indicates a year in Latin numbers, if so, the
year 999. But it would be a pure specula-
tion to relate it to some historical event.
The latest investigations into the chronolo-
gy of the Saga of the Faeroese by Mort-
ensen (1997) conclude that Sigmundur
Brestisson introduced Christianity in 998.
The petroglyph could be related to the lo-
cale of a main or local Thing, placed just on
the boundary between the two chiefdoms.
This contradicts the general interpretation
of the Saga that places the main Thing i
Tórshavn. Certain formulations in the
Saga, however, are open for other interpre-
tations. The first time the Thing is men-
tioned the sentence has a peculiar structure:
“The Thing of the Faeroese was then in
Streymoy, and there is a harbour that is
called Tórshavn”. Other times, it is just
called Streymoyarting, other times it clear-
ly states that the Thing “was in Streymoy in
Tórshavn”.
The reference could be related also to a
pre-Roman Catholic, or heathen, place of
God, a hof or altar, that is indicated by the
place-names containing the elements
Hunsl- and Stallr. This is also supported by
Winters’ efforts to explain the meaning of
Hórisgøta as Hof-ryggs-gøta.
Conclusion
From these investigations into the historic
literature, from map-sheets with place-
names, as well as on the spot observations,
many indications and arguments have been
found from which it can be assumed, but
not definitely proven, that:
* The oldest territorial division of the
Faeroe Islands into two chiefdoms cut
Streymoy into two parts, the boundary of
which followed Skeiðsá on the ridge be-
tween Kollafjørður and Kaldbaksfjørður.
* There has been a sacred place or hof in
the vicinity of Hundsenni, Stallur and the
valley, Koppurin.
References
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