The Norse in Iceland

• Main Author: Zori, Davide Marco
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 2016
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199935413.013.7; https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/chapter-pdf/45198116/book_43506_section_364131791.ag.pdf

Abstract The Norse discovery and settlement of Iceland in the late ninth century AD offers a test case for the study of human impacts on previously unoccupied landscapes and the formation of new societies under challenging conditions. The Norse Viking Age settlement of the island serves as a cautionary tale about the anthropogenic destruction of fragile environments, while simultaneously providing lessons about the strategic management of marginal ecosystems and nuanced examples of societal evolution and secondary state formation. Archaeological investigation of these processes is complemented by oral traditions preserved in the Icelandic sagas. Although researchers debate the proper use of the sagas, the strength of recent research is its interdisciplinary nature, combining a suite of available tools of inquiry.