VSF 2010 Report - Nabo

luish-grey layer of coarse sand [10061], which was interpreted as an old beach surface or
seabed. To the west of this was a thin layer of reddish brown turf collapse [10063], sitting
on top of a dark brown sandy silt with very frequent gravels and stones [10062]. This layer
seems to be infilling a cut, which can be seen as a depression in the profile across the wall
(see Figure 5). This feature appears to be some sort of sea wall, probably built to protect
the boats being stored in the boathouse from tidal surges and storms, lined by large stones
and also with a turf cladding. As there was no soil layer above the natural ground surface, it
seems that the area was deturfed before the wall was built. Due to the fact that the Hekla
1693 tephra was not observed above, within or below the wall, and no datable artefacts or
cultural material was recovered, it is not possible to date the wall without further
investigation.
Acknowledgements
The author is very grateful for the advice of Karen Milek and Garðar Guðmundsson during
the process of evaluation trench location and interpretation, and also to Ásta
Hermannsdóttir for her input regarding the relationship between the structures discovered
and the 19 th and 20 th century homefield maps (túnkort). The author would also like the
thank Charlotte Diffey, Jeannette Plummer, Bernadette McCooey and Claire Cotter for
their assistance.
References
GARDEŁA, L. & MIKOLAJCZYK, Ł. 2010. ‘GPS Survey in the Coastal Area of Vatnsfjörður’.
In Milek, K. (Ed) Vatnsfjörður 2009. Framvinduskýrslur/Interim Reports.
Reykjavík: Fornleifastofnun Íslands. Report number FS449-03099. Pp. 41-50.
MCGOVERN, T., KRIVOGORSKAYA, K., BREWINGTON, S., KENDALL, A. & HARRISON, R.
2005. ‘Midden Investigations at Vatnsfjord, NW Iceland July 2005’. In Friðriksson,
A., Tulinius, T.H., & Guðmundsson, G. (Eds) Vatnsfjörður 2005.
Fornleifarannsóknir / Fieldwork at Vatnsfjörður, NW-Iceland 2005. Reykjavík:
Fornleifastofnun Íslands. Report number FS301-03095. Pp. 63-72.
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