The Settlement of Reykjavík
(English side:)Archaeological remains have been found in the city centre. They date back to the settle-ment period in the 9th century to modern times. This is the site of the first settlement of Reykjavík and it is believed that the farmstead reached from Vonarstrimti to Grjótagata.
The first settlers came to Iceland from Norway and the British Isles in the 9th century. At this time the environment was quite different from what we see today. There were birch wood forests that for various reasons had for the most part vanished by the year 1000. The sea level was considerably lower and the homes of the early settlers were built on a gravel bank typical of the area at the time.
Beyond it was the Lake, much larger than today, as it extended as far as the present site of the Reykjavík Cathedral. A brook flowed from it out to sea, where Lækjargata (Brook Street) now stands.
Archaeological findings provide us with a clear picture of the life of the early Icelandic community in the 9th and 10th centuries, the period described in the Sagas of Icelanders. People lived in longhouses, a common type of turf houses
this page online
At the site was a well organized common zone, utilised in various ways by the inhabitants. Iron was processed from bog iron, barley was worked and baking took place over open hearths in the area. Animal bones found during the excavations show that the settlers hunted birds for food and caught fish and shellfish at sea. They were agricultural people as well and raised cattle and pigs. Walrus ivory was an export commodity in these times but walruses became more scarce by the Icelandic shores in the 11th century.
Research shows that it is probable that more archaeological remains from the early settlement period lie concealed under the modern buildings and road constructions in the city centre. Therefore, the settlement of Reykjavik and the life of the first settlers remains to be explored further. One 10th century longhouse has been preserved and it can be seen at the Settlement Exhibition 871 ±2 in Aðalstræti 16.
-
Í miðbænum hafa fundist fornminjar frá öllum tímum Íslandssögunnar og er
Fyrstu landnemarnir komu frá Noregi og Bretlandseyjum á 9. öld en þá var umhverfið töluvert öðruvísi en það er í dag. Hér óx birkiskógur sem af ýmsum ástæðum var að mestu horfinn um árið 1000. Staða sjávar var lægri og húsin á bæjarstæðinu stóðu á malarkambi sem var einkennandi fyrir svæðið á þessum tíma.
Nálægt húsunum lá Tjörnin sem var mun stærri en nú og náði þangað sem Dómkirkjan stendur. Þar sem nú er Lækjargata rann lækur úr Tjörninni til sjávar.
Minjarnar sem hafa fundist í miðænum gefa góða mynd af því samfélagi sem hér myndaðist á 9.-10. öld, á sögutima Íslendingasagna. Fólk bjó í skálum sem var algeng gerð torfhúsa í Skandinaviu á víkingaöld. Við einn þessara skála stóð smiðja þar sem málmur var bræddur og unninn. Í grennd við bæjarhúsin var skipulagt athafnasvæði þar sem fólk kom saman og stundaði ýmis störf. Þar fór fram járnvinnsla úr mýrarrauða en rauðinn var sóttur í mýrarnar í kring. Vinnsla á korni og bakstur fór fram yfir eldstæðum á svæðinu.
Dýrabein
Rannsóknir sýna að fornleifar frá fyrstu tíð liggja undir götum og húsum i miðbænum. Það er því margt enn ókannað varðandi landnám og fyrstu aldir byggðar í Reykjavík. Einn skáli hefur verið varðveittur frá 10. öld en hann er á Landnámssýningunni 871 ±2 í Aðalstræti 16.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 871 CE.
Location. 64° 8.842′ N, 21° 56.524′ W. Marker is in Reykjavík, Capital Region (Höfuðborgarsvæðið), in Reykjavíkurborg. It is in Centre. It can be reached from the intersection of Aðalstræti and Kirkjustræti. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Reykjavík, Capital Region 101, Iceland. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, on the Atlantic Arc, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, in the Nordic Countries, in the Schengen Area, in the Western Hemisphere, and in the Western World.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Vik Church Altar (here, next to this marker); Aðalstræti 16 (a few steps from this marker); Theodóra Thoroddsen (a few steps from this marker); Aðalstræti 12 - Ísafold (within shouting distance of this marker); Grjógata 4 (within shouting distance of this marker); Adlon (within shouting distance of this marker); Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Grjótaþorp (about 90 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Reykjavík.
More about this marker. The marker is located within the small park (Vikurgarður) at the intersection of Kirkjustræti and Aðalstræti, and easy to see when within the park. Worth noting is that directly accross the street (Aðalstræti), set into the sidewalk, is a plexiglass setup into which one may look beneath the surface to see part of the excavated archaeological site. It's a rather underwhelming view, however.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 320 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 9, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
