ABSTRACT

Palaeoecological studies from across Iceland, in tandem with historical and archaeological examinations, have helped improve our understanding of patterns and processes involved in the initial settlement of Iceland. Here, we present a new high resolution reconstruction of vegetation and landscape dynamics for the farm Kagaðarhóll, a lowland site in Austur-Húnavatnssýsla, Northwest Iceland, a region with a notable scarcity of known archaeological sites. Through palynology and the analysis of lithological proxies, the study locates and examines human influence at the study site and evaluates the mechanisms of environmental change. Prior to settlement, following long-term vegetation regression, Betula woodland interspersed with sedge bog was prevalent at Kagaðarhóll. Woodland clearance and grazing was initiated no later than AD 900, illustrating the arrival of humans. Over the following centuries, the record shows continued grazing, increased soil erosion and a transition into heathland and shrubland indicative of anthropogenic environmental degradation. Woodland conservation and management practices are also inferred. The study is important in extending knowledge of Icelandic environmental change and anthropogenic activity where archaeological research is scant and in bringing together regional patterns of settlement in order to understand wider settlement processes.

摘要

来自冰岛各地的古生态学研究与历史和考古检查相结合，有助于提高我们对冰岛最初定居的模式和过程的理解。在这里，我们展示了 Kagaðarhóll 农场的植被和景观动态的新高分辨率重建，该农场位于冰岛西北部 Austur-Húnavatnssýsla 的一个低地遗址，该地区已知考古遗址显着稀缺。通过孢粉学和岩性代理分析，该研究定位和检查了研究地点的人类影响，并评估了环境变化的机制。定居前，经过长期植被退化，白桦散布着莎草沼泽的林地在 Kagaðarhóll 很普遍。不迟于公元 900 年开始清理林地和放牧，说明人类的到来。在接下来的几个世纪里，记录显示持续放牧、增加土壤侵蚀以及向荒地和灌木丛的过渡，表明人为环境退化。还推断出林地保护和管理实践。该研究对于扩展对考古研究不足的冰岛环境变化和人类活动的知识以及将区域定居模式汇总以了解更广泛的定居过程非常重要。