ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER PEARLS AND DECORATED BEADS IN NORSE SETTLEMENT

ARCHAEOLOGISTS FROM ANTIKVA HAVE UNCOVERED PEARLS AND DECORATED BEADS IN A NORSE SETTLEMENT ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF SEYÐISFJÖRÐUR, ICELAND.

The early settlement of Iceland is generally believed to have begun in the second half of the 9th century AD. The reasons for the migration are uncertain, but later in the Middle Ages Icelanders themselves tended to cite civil strife or a shortage of arable land as the cause.

Antikva archaeologists found a farmstead that dates from the 10th century AD, with structures ranging from AD 940 to 1100, and later additions in AD 1160 to 1300.


The team have uncovered pearls and jewellery, with a 10th or 11th century pearl being decorated with what appears to be the colours of the Icelandic flag, first adopted in 1915 to represent Iceland.

Archaeologists also excavated a burial mound containing human remains that was buried with a horse and deposited grave goods such as a spear, a boat seam, iron artefacts and a silver ring.

Article source: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/08/archaeologists-uncover-pearls-and-decorated-beads-in-norse-settlement/144413