Two historic discoveries in Reykjavik
Archaeologists conducting an excavation in the center of Reykjavik, who were looking for a farm cottage from 1799 made a surprise discovery last week when they found something much older. What they found was a Viking longhouse some 20 meters in length and with one of the largest long fire pits found in Iceland measuring over five metres long.
Longhouse will be displayed at new hotel
A hotel in the Íslandshótel chain is to be constructed on the site next year and the hotel directors have declared that the remains will be displayed in accordance with Iceland‘s Heritage Trust. One example of such a display next to a hotel is at the popular Settlement exhibition in Aðalstræti where the oldest longhouse in Iceland, dating from the ninth century, was found.
The newly discovered longhouse is thought to have been in use from 10th to the 13th century and it‘s considerably larger than the longhouse found in Aðalstræti. A number of objects including weaving tools, glass pearls, a pearl made from red sandstone, a silver ring and blade sharpening tools have been found on the site.
An important harbour construction
Another fascinating discovery was made recently at Reykjavik harbour when a harbour wall from the early twentieth century was unearthed during new construction in the area.
This older harbour wall was constructed during the first world war and was part of the most important constructions undertaken by Icelanders in this period. A train was used at this time to transport materials to and from the harbour, the only time that a train has ever been used in Iceland.
This old harbour wall disappeared in a landfill made in 1939 and acccording to Pétur Ármannsson at the Heritage Trust it‘s a very important find. The Heritage Trust has made a demand that the harbour wall must be preserved, or at least parts of it. The old harbour wall was connected to a stone pier at the end of Pósthússtræti and served as the "gate" to Reykjavik for decades. Everyone who entered the city had to enter by this gate and along the pier.
Apartments and shops are to be constructed on the harbour site in question as well as an underground car park. If the harbour wall is to be preserved these constructions will surely be affected.
