Some Icelandic farms were abandoned as early as 12th century

Some farms in Fljótsdalshérað had already been abandoned by the 12th century, according to archaeological research reported by mbl.is. The findings come from a field study carried out at six sites in August as part of a broader project examining abandoned farms across Iceland.

Archaeologists from the Archaeological Institute of Iceland surveyed the sites using excavation, soil drilling and mapping. They opened test trenches in what are believed to be farm ruins to gather more information about the settlements’ age and character.

The project, funded by Rannís, examines the abandonment of settlements from the 12th through the 15th century. Researchers have previously studied abandoned farms in Eyjafjörður, southern Iceland and western Iceland, with the findings from eastern Iceland intended for comparison.

Volcanic ash layers were used to date the remains. Ash expert Magnús Á. Sigurgeirsson examined the layers and found that most of the farms had been established soon after the settlement ash layer fell.

A prominent ash layer from a Hekla eruption in 1158 is found in Fljótsdalshérað. At some sites, the ash covered all the remains, while at others people built over it. Those farms had generally been abandoned by the 13th or 14th century.

Ash from the Veiðivatn eruption in 1477 is also widespread in the region. Only one of the six sites showed evidence that buildings had been rebuilt after that eruption.

The results indicate that the farms had varied settlement histories, including differences in the length of occupation, the number of construction phases and the time at which they were abandoned.

The sites investigated this summer were spread across Úthérað. They included Valgerðarstaðir and Þorgerðarstaðir in Fell, Goðrúnarstaðir and Valhnjúksstaðir in Hjaltastaðaþinghá, Fossgerði in Hróarstunga and Bæjargerði in Jökulsárhlíð.

At all six locations, remains visible in aerial photographs included boundary walls surrounding less visible farm ruins. Excavations and investigations below the surface revealed further evidence about the settlements.