Archaeological excavations are ongoing in Seyðisfjörður in eastern Iceland. Scientists are currently working on a site where they hope to study the homes built by the first settlers in the fjord. The excavations are located in a place where the first settlers were often plagued by avalanches – mud and snow.
In 1885, one of the deadliest avalanches in Icelandic history took place on Mount Bjólfur in Seyðisfjörður. Twenty-four people died in this event. Avalanche dams are currently being built on this mountain, but first the area will be investigated for archaeological remains that may be from the settlement period. Previous research in 1998 gave archaeologists reason to believe that artifacts or ruins may be buried there.
More than 20 excavations were made in Seyðisfjörður this summer in the search for ancient settlements. They show clear traces of a great mudslide that covered human habitats. By analyzing the layers of Tephra, archaeologists could conclude that the landslide occurred in 1477. Icelandic Weather Services found evidence of this incident in 2018, but it’s only now clear how big it was.
“The avalanche appears to be at least 250 meters long and covered the surface with a layer at least a meter thick at its thickest points. There are also large boulders in the applied layer “ She explained Rannveig Þórhallsdóttir, the archaeologist who oversees the excavations. “We have found three buildings that we will excavate next summer” – she added.
Two of them are near Fjörður, a settlement period farm, and the third in the northern part of the area. Preliminary results of the on-site Tephra analyzes indicate that the buildings may have been erected in the years 940–1160, or at least before 1477. At a depth of 110 cm under a mudslide, in the nearby fields, also human habitats that may be from the 12th century were found.
Evidence of a large avalanche has also been found. “Many people died in this avalanche and houses collapsed” Rannveig continued. “One of the houses we’ll explore next summer has collapsed, but the stone walls have resisted – the people in this house have survived. We also study the traces of an avalanche from 1885 and its impact on the settlement “.
Monika Szewczuk
Source: Yle