Whaling in classical Iceland

Abstract Sagas, law texts, court and ecclesiastical manuscripts, the King's Mirror , and later texts of the 17th and 18th centuries provide information on whaling activities in Iceland during the classical period (up to 1300) and later. Most references concern whales washed or driven ashore, ra...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Record
Main Author: Whitaker, Ian
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1984
Subjects:
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Ecology
Geography, Planning and Development
Iceland
Polar Record
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400005374
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400005374
Description
Summary:Abstract Sagas, law texts, court and ecclesiastical manuscripts, the King's Mirror , and later texts of the 17th and 18th centuries provide information on whaling activities in Iceland during the classical period (up to 1300) and later. Most references concern whales washed or driven ashore, rather than hunted in the open sea. Beached whales were clearly regarded as valuable food resources, generating disputes, litigation and other social conflict among the communities of the Icelandic Commonwealth.

Similar Items