Historical Ecology on Sandoy, Faroe Islands: Palaeoenvironmental and Archaeological Perspectives

Abstract

We present palaeoenvironmental, geomorphological, archaeological, and place-name data which allow a holistic assessment of the history of landscape change on Sandoy, Faroe Islands, especially in terms of the changes that occurred in response to the colonization of the island by humans. In contrast to other situations in the North Atlantic region, there is considerable continuity in the patterns and processes of landscape evolution across the initial Lawson et al. settlement horizon. Many of the characteristic features of post-settlement North Atlantic landscapes-absence of trees, widespread blanket mires, high rates of soil erosion-were already in place when the first people arrived.Although human impact on Sandoy appears to have been light, conversely, the unusual environment forced major alterations of the subsistence economy imported by the colonists. Settlement-era archaeological records suggest that, from the start, patterns of resource use differed substantially from the regional norm, and these differences became amplified over time as the Faroese economy created a locally sustainable cultural landscape.

Viking and Medieval Settlement in the Faroes: People, Place and Environment

“…Further investigations have been carried out in the area to the north of the church revealing extensive settlement remains which may belong to the earliest settlement within this holding, with calibrated radiocarbon age ranges (1 standard deviation) of A.D. 785-875 and A.D. 900-960 , and these, along with the dates from Toftanes on Esturoy (Vickers et al, 2005), are currently the earliest settlement dates in the Faroes. Excavations are continuing at the site, and these, in part, are reported elsewhere Woollett et al, 2004;Lawson et al, 2005). The archaeological remains found at Sandur including the only silver coin hoard found in the islands, buried around A.D. 1090, suggest high status and strong links with the outside world.…”

“…Recent zooarchaeological investigations at the site of Junkarinsfløttur in Sandur show that birds were widely exploited at an early stage (Lawson et al, 2005). It is still too soon to say whether this investigation is representative for all the islands.…”

“…These are supplemented by species both deliberately and accidentally introduced by the settlers Edwards et al and Vickers et al, 2005), the former largely represented by their domestic animals. It is only with the recent faunal work on Sandoy Lawson et al, 2005) that detail of these has begun to emerge. Inevitably a range of insect species associated with the dung of these animals also appears at landnám, and it is the early presence of the dung beetle Aphodius lapponum which perhaps indicates a Scandinavian rather than Irish origin for at least some of the settlers, in that this dung beetle is more common in northern and upland localities .…”

“On the Windy Edge of Nothing”: A Historical Human Ecology of the Faroe Islands

“…It is clear from the relatively small amount of palynological research carried out in the Faroes (e.g., Edwards and Craigie, 1998;Hannon et al, 2001;Jóhansen, 1985;Lawson et al, 2005) that the dominant natural vegetation prior to human occupation was sedge-heath-grassland, and woodland seems to have been of minor importance. Any agricultural migrants to the archipelego would be limited to the coastal strip and valley bottoms-"the land they can till is only a frill or a flounce of green below the knees of their cloud-capped mountains" (Linklater, 1948, p. 16).…”

A simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the Faroe Islands

“…Jørgensen (1978) described the morphology of 9 mainly rock slides, originating from late or post glacial time, in Suðuroy (the southernmost island of the Faroe Islands), three of which have later been redefined as rock glaciers (Humlum, 1998). In a multidisciplinary study by Lawson et al (2005) it was found that from 2000-4000 yr BP, a general slope destabilization in the Faroe Islands occurred, most likely due to climate changes. When analyzing 4 soil pits on a slope at Klaksvík on the island Borðoy Christiansen et al (2007) identified app.…”