Walrus Tusks & Bone From Aðalstræti 14‐18, Reykjavík Iceland

Three tusks from large mature walrus (Odobenus rosmarus L.) were recovered in 2001 from excavations by Archaeological Institute Iceland (FSÍ) within the early settlement age hall at Aðalstræti 14‐18 in downtown Reykjavík Iceland. These were made available for study at the FSÍ research center shortly after excavation and have since been included in the exhibit of the Reykjavík 871+/‐2 Museum. These tusks showed clear signs of expert extraction from the dense maxillary bone, and apparently reflect successful hunting of Icelandic walrus by the first settlers. In 2010 the staff of the Reykjavik 871+/‐2 Museum kindly aided study of large bones still embedded in the lower portion of the preserved turf wall and door sill of the hall (skáli) structure. These bones proved to be a partially articulated vertebral column and scapula of large mature walrus. This paper reports on both sets of walrus bone and tusk finds from the early hall at Aðalstræti 14‐18 , which together provide an intriguing indication of walrus hunting in early Iceland.

Aðalstræti Iceland mammals Reykjavík Viking Age walrus zooarchaeology

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