Centuries-Old Viking Settlement Featuring ‘The Richest Longhouse in Iceland’ Found

The older of the two Viking longhouses found at the dig site was apparently built decades before Iceland was permanently settled by people.

An ancient Viking settlement that was recently unearthed by archaeologists in Iceland may be the oldest of its kind in that region, Live Science reports.

According to the media outlet, the ancient longhouses – types of large wooden hall up to 75 meters long and 6 meters wide, that were used as communal habitation during the Viking Age – that were found in the vicinity of the village of Stöðvarfjörður, were apparently built decades before the island was settled by people during the 9th century.

The old longhouse was discovered buried underneath a more recent longhouse, with the latter dated around 874 A.D., the “commonly accepted date for Iceland’s settlement by people”, and contained a trove of valuables such as ornamental beads and ancient coins.

The artefacts uncovered by Einarsson’s team included Roman and Middle Eastern silver coins, decorative glass beads, rings and weights, which the inhabitants likely obtained by trading local goods such as skin and meat from whales and seals, the archaeologist explained.

Sourse: sputniknews.com