A second house has been unearthed at the Stöng archaeological site, Morgunblaðið reports.
Stöng, located in Þjórsárdalur valley in South Iceland, is one of the best-known farms from the time of settlement. Today, it is home to a heritage museum which features both a recreation of a settlement-era farmstead and church.
Oddgeir Isaksen, archaeologist at the Cultural Heritage Agency of Iceland, stated to Morgunblaðið: “There were plans in place to repair the shelter over the ruins at Stöng and to set up an observation platform at the eastern end of the excavation site, so an archaeological investigation was necessary.”
During these exploratory excavations, a building was found at the eastern end of the excavation site. The building is dated as being contemporary with the eruption of Hekla, one of Iceland’s largest volcanoes, in 1104. The 1104 Hekla eruption is believed to have caused significant damage to the area.
Oddgeir continued: “This confirms what has long been believed, that there was a settlement here from around 950 until 1104. There have been significant volcanic eruptions here; it has been a heavily affected area, and not very habitable afterward.”
The excavation is expected to be completed soon, at which point experts will need to decide how to best preserve the ruins. Plans are currently to incorporate the ruins into the current exhibit at Stöng.
