Archaeologists Unearthed Oldest Viking Settlement in Iceland

Archaeologists Unearthed Oldest Viking Settlement in Iceland

Archaeologists Unearthed Oldest Viking Settlement in Iceland

It dates back decades before Vikings are supposed to have settled the island.

Archaeologists have made a discovery that could rewrite the history of Iceland, an ancient Viking settlement that predates known human presence on the island.

Two ancient longhouses were found near the village outside of fjord of Stöðvarfjörður, while one was built almost 75 years ago when the first Vikings came to the country.

The older hall, which dates to approximately 800 AD, is at least 131 feet long and was used by early colonizers as a seasonal hunting camp to monitor walrus in the area.

Along with the wooden structure, there were numerous decorative artifacts, including Roman and Middle Eastern coins, beads, rings and tiny fragments of gold.

Archaeologist have made a discovery that could rewrite Iceland’s history – an ancient Viking settlement that predates known human presence on the island. Two ancient longhouses were unearthed near a village outside of fjord of Stöðvarfjörður and one (pictured) was built nearly 75 years earlier than records say when the first Vikings came to the country

The discovery was made by Bjarni F. Einarsson and a team that have been working in the area since 2015.

The team uncovered a longhouse that dates back to 860 to 870, which provided a look in to how Vikings set up a farm settlement. After digging deeper into the ground, Einarsson and his group discovered another longhouse that was built in 800.

The older hall, which dates to around 800 AD, is at least 131 feet long and was used as a seasonal hunting camp by the early colonizers to track walrus in the area

‘We still don’t have the complete picture, since we must complete the excavation of the newer farm before we can explore this older structure,’ Einarsson told Iceland Review.

‘It was built inside the fallen walls of the older structure that appears to have been huge, at least 40m (131ft) long.’ Records tell the story of Viking chief, Ingolfur Arnarson who sailed from Norway along with friends and farm hands in search of land untouched by humans.

Along with the wooden structure were numerous decorative artifacts, including Roman and Middle Eastern coins, beads, rings and tiny fragments of gold

Legend says that he spotted the land, which is now Iceland, far in the distance and asked the gods for direction on where he should settle.

Einarsson threw his high-seat pillars overboard and swore to the gods that he would build a rich farm where he landed. And the ship pulled on to the shore in 874 – this was previously said to be the first inhabitants of Iceland.

The ancient longhouse is a massive structure that was used as a seasonal hunting camp, which was under the control of a Norwegian chief who would hunt walrus to bring back to Norway.

The youngest (pictured) of the two longhouses contained the most valuable horde of objects ever found in Iceland and was probably the hall of a Viking chief

‘It also to be at least as old as the oldest structures we have previously excavated in Iceland, Einarsson explained.

‘Based on radiocarbon dating and other evidence, I estimate this structure dates to around 800 AD.’

Longhouses were used as communal homes during the Viking era.

The structures were divided into rooms, allowing several families to stay at once.

After sifting through the dirt, the team uncovered what is said to be ‘the most valuable hoards of ornamental beads, silver and ancient coins ever found in Scandinavia,’ Einarsson told LiveScience.

After sifting through the dirt, the team uncovered what is said to be ‘the most valuable hoards of ornamental beads, silver and ancient coins ever found in Scandinavia

The trove included Roman and Middle Eastern silver coins, decorative glass beads, rings, weights and a tiny fragment of gold.

Experts say the items were likely acquired by trading local resources, such as the skins and meat from whales and walrus.

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