Akurvík NORSEC 15 1 A 15 th c Archaeofauna from Akurvík, an early Fishing Station in NW Iceland

• Main Authors: Amundsen, Colin, Perdikaris, Sophia, McGovern, Thomas (NABO and CUNY), Matthew Brown, Matthew, Krivogorskaya, Yekaterina, Modugno, Salina, Śmiarowski, Konrad (CUNY), Storm, Shaye, Frik, Malgorzata, Koczela, Monica
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: the Digital Archaeological Record
• Subjects: Icelandic; Medieval; Northern Iceland; Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex; Fauna; Árneshreppur; Iceland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.6067:XCV81Z45D7_meta$v=1417393004618

This is a report of analysis of 15th c bone materials from the site of Akurvík in NW Iceland excavated in 1990. A small international project in Árneshreppur district recovered a series of stratified midden deposits associated with small turf structures on an eroding beachfront. Radiocarbon dates identify at least two major phases of occupation and use, one extending into the mid 13th century, and the other dating to the mid 15th century. This report documents the animal bone collection from the later 15th c occupation. Dominated by cod fish, these deposits appear to be the product of seasonal fishery carried out from small temporary “booths” and are clearly not the product of a normal medieval Icelandic farmstead. Clear zooarchaeological signatures for cod and haddock preserved fish production are evident and comparisons are drawn to later 18th c contexts. Whale bone was extensively used in construction and craftwork, but it is unclear whether active whaling was carried out from the site or if stranded carcasses were extensively scavenged. Seals and sea birds provided minor supplement to the station and shellfish were probably mainly collected for bait.