Quernstones and Craftsmanship: Diffusion of Innovation in Pre-Industrial Iceland

• Main Author: Guðmundsdóttir Beck, Sólveig
• Other Authors: Orri Vésteinsson, Sagnfræði- og heimspekideild (HÍ), Faculty of History and Philosophy (UI), Hugvísindasvið (HÍ), School of Humanities (UI), Háskóli Íslands, University of Iceland
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Iceland, School of Humanities, Faculty of History and Philosophy 2020
• Subjects: Iceland; Quernstones; Agropastoral society; 18th century; Innovation diffusion; Kvarnarsteinar; 18. öld; Bændasamfélög; Innréttingarnar; Fornleifafræði; Doktorsritgerðir
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/1880

Innovations introduced in connection with the New Enterprises in Iceland in the second half of the 18th century have long been considered largely unsuccessful, but a more detailed analysis of the reception of particular innovations has been lacking. After a series of unsuccessful experiments in cereal cultivation a decision was made early in the 1770s to start the import of unground grain and revive indigenous quernstone production all around Iceland. The revival was successful beyond expectations and quernstone production was continued into the early 20th century. The aim of this thesis was threefold: 1) to piece together the historical chain of events and analyse the ideology behind the revival of indigenous quernstone production, 2) to identify which aspects in the revivals’ management, introduction and public participation were crucial for its progress and eventual success, and 3) identify any potential changes in Icelandic quernstone typology that may have taken place in connection with this late 18th century revival. The analysis is based on available historical information regarding the revival’s execution and its key participants; general models of Icelandic pre-industrial social structure and economy; the availability of indigenous raw materials and a typological analysis of the Icelandic quernstone assemblage from first settlement into modern times. As an example of innovation acceptance in a rural society, the revival of quernstone production in Iceland gives a rare chance to analyse both the process and its archaeological consequences. The analysis is mainly structured around diffusion of innovation theory developed within American rural sociology in the mid-20th century. There is clear correspondence between the defined parameters that need the most attention for successful innovation diffusion in an underdeveloped rural society, and the methods employed by the Danish-Icelandic government during the successful introduction of the quernstone in the late 18th century. A clear change can be detected in ...