1. CUNY HERC Open Workshop
New York, 15 October 2012
Viking Age and early medieval trade in the
North Atlantic: Comparison of settlement sites
from Iceland and Greenland
Aaron Kendall
The Graduate Center, City University of New York

2. Norse migration and potential subsequent trade
routes

3. Three Hypotheses Addressed:
1. First Viking Age settlers in the N. Atlantic brought a
“Settler Kit” which could not be easily renewed.
2. Because everyday artifacts were not easily replaced,
status differences became blurred archaeologically.
3. Increased trade resulting from expanding fish markets
provided the opportunity to replenish household and
elite objects in the Early Medieval Period.

5. Hofstaðir
HST
Hrísheimar
HRH Sveigakot
SVK

6. Hofstaðir Skáli

7. Sveigakot Skáli

8. Material from Mývatn Sites
100%
90% Misc.
80%
Wool
Wood
70%
Plant
60% Stone
50%
Steatite
Schist
55% 59%
40% 50% Glass
Fe Fe
Fe
30% Copper
Iron
20%
Bone
10%
0%
Hofstadir Sveigakot Hreisheimar

9. Myvatn Imports

10. Myvatn Local Materials

11. Material from Mývatn Sites
100%
90% Misc.
80%
Wool
Wood
70%
Plant
60% Stone
50%
Steatite
Schist
55% 59%
40% 50% Glass
Fe Fe
Fe
30% Copper
Iron
20%
Bone
10%
0%
Hofstadir Sveigakot Hreisheimar

12. Mývatn
Imports
Sveigakot
12
10
Steatite
Percentage
8
6
4 Glass
2
0 Schist
Hofstaðir
8
6
Percentage
4
2
0
AD 950 AD 1050 AD 1150

13. Western Settlement Sites
V48
V51
V54
GUS

14. Local Greenland Materials

15. Greenlandic Antler Combs

16. Greenland Imports

17. Iceland-Greenland Comparison

18. Further Work
• Finish inputting Greenland artifacts into
database
• Incorporate site phasing and temporal changes
in assemblage at each site
• Address wear of whetstones and nails
• Add material from Skutustaðir and Sandwick
• Future comparisons with Faroes, Shetland,
Orkney, and Scandinavian mainland?
• Make completed database accessible on the
Internet