Local‐scale adaptations: A modeled assessment of soil, landscape, microclimatic, and management factors in Norse home‐field productivities
Abstract Adaptation of farming practices to inherent site conditions was essential to the success of Norse colonization in pristine landscapes. A key factor in the initial success of colonization, or landnám, of Iceland was management of the area adjacent to the domestic dwelling, the home‐field, to...
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crwiley:10.1002/gea.20228 2024-06-02T08:09:10+00:00 Local‐scale adaptations: A modeled assessment of soil, landscape, microclimatic, and management factors in Norse home‐field productivities Adderley, W. Paul Simpson, Ian A. Vésteinsson, Orri 2008 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/gea.20228 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fgea.20228 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/gea.20228 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Geoarchaeology volume 23, issue 4, page 500-527 ISSN 0883-6353 1520-6548 journal-article 2008 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.20228 2024-05-03T11:33:46Z Abstract Adaptation of farming practices to inherent site conditions was essential to the success of Norse colonization in pristine landscapes. A key factor in the initial success of colonization, or landnám, of Iceland was management of the area adjacent to the domestic dwelling, the home‐field, to provide fodder for over‐wintering livestock. In this paper we examine three settlement home‐fields in the Mývatn and Laxá valley area of northeast Iceland. Contemporary evidence reveals a distinct climatic toposequence together with differences in the nature of the inherent soils between sites. By considering the influence of these differences, microscale adaptations in early land management practices in the production of hay are sought within a tightly defined chronological context. Using an integrated agroecosystem modeling approach, the factors affecting long‐term sustainability of hay production in the Norse home‐field are examined. Results indicate that regional‐level climate differences will have an impact on production, especially pronounced cold periods. It is also clear that small‐scale climate factors, as well as inherent soil differences between sites influenced productivity for the Norse farmer. However, productivities overall are at subsistence level, emphasizing the need for optimized land management to sustain home‐field production. After examining different management scenarios, it is apparent that the effect of an increased rate of manuring will be most apparent during the first century of settlement; thereafter the effect is relatively diminished. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Article in Journal/Newspaper Iceland Mývatn Wiley Online Library Mývatn ENVELOPE(-16.985,-16.985,65.600,65.600) Geoarchaeology 23 4 500 527 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Adaptation of farming practices to inherent site conditions was essential to the success of Norse colonization in pristine landscapes. A key factor in the initial success of colonization, or landnám, of Iceland was management of the area adjacent to the domestic dwelling, the home‐field, to provide fodder for over‐wintering livestock. In this paper we examine three settlement home‐fields in the Mývatn and Laxá valley area of northeast Iceland. Contemporary evidence reveals a distinct climatic toposequence together with differences in the nature of the inherent soils between sites. By considering the influence of these differences, microscale adaptations in early land management practices in the production of hay are sought within a tightly defined chronological context. Using an integrated agroecosystem modeling approach, the factors affecting long‐term sustainability of hay production in the Norse home‐field are examined. Results indicate that regional‐level climate differences will have an impact on production, especially pronounced cold periods. It is also clear that small‐scale climate factors, as well as inherent soil differences between sites influenced productivity for the Norse farmer. However, productivities overall are at subsistence level, emphasizing the need for optimized land management to sustain home‐field production. After examining different management scenarios, it is apparent that the effect of an increased rate of manuring will be most apparent during the first century of settlement; thereafter the effect is relatively diminished. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Adderley, W. Paul Simpson, Ian A. Vésteinsson, Orri |
spellingShingle |
Adderley, W. Paul Simpson, Ian A. Vésteinsson, Orri Local‐scale adaptations: A modeled assessment of soil, landscape, microclimatic, and management factors in Norse home‐field productivities |
author_facet |
Adderley, W. Paul Simpson, Ian A. Vésteinsson, Orri |
author_sort |
Adderley, W. Paul |
title |
Local‐scale adaptations: A modeled assessment of soil, landscape, microclimatic, and management factors in Norse home‐field productivities |
title_short |
Local‐scale adaptations: A modeled assessment of soil, landscape, microclimatic, and management factors in Norse home‐field productivities |
title_full |
Local‐scale adaptations: A modeled assessment of soil, landscape, microclimatic, and management factors in Norse home‐field productivities |
title_fullStr |
Local‐scale adaptations: A modeled assessment of soil, landscape, microclimatic, and management factors in Norse home‐field productivities |
title_full_unstemmed |
Local‐scale adaptations: A modeled assessment of soil, landscape, microclimatic, and management factors in Norse home‐field productivities |
title_sort |
local‐scale adaptations: a modeled assessment of soil, landscape, microclimatic, and management factors in norse home‐field productivities |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/gea.20228 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fgea.20228 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/gea.20228 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-16.985,-16.985,65.600,65.600) |
geographic |
Mývatn |
geographic_facet |
Mývatn |
genre |
Iceland Mývatn |
genre_facet |
Iceland Mývatn |
op_source |
Geoarchaeology volume 23, issue 4, page 500-527 ISSN 0883-6353 1520-6548 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.20228 |
container_title |
Geoarchaeology |
container_volume |
23 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
500 |
op_container_end_page |
527 |
_version_ |
1800754808176508928 |