Movement at Mosfell. Routes, Traffic, and Power in a Viking Age Icelandic Valley

Abstract

In recent years, the Mosfell Archaeological Project unearthed a Viking Age long house,church, graveyard, and cremation burial mound at the site Hrísbrú in the Mosfell Valley.Medieval place names suggest that this site was attractive for travelers and situatedadjacent to a campsite. Two main routes to the Reykjavík area converged on the site,although there were other routes which bypassed Hrísbrú and led to the samedestinations. Local routes connected to the site to the nearby Viking Age ship’s landingat the bay Leiruvogur. Travelers brought and spread news, and an ambitious individualcould turn such visits into a political advantage. Medieval texts state that the family ofHrísbrú/Mosfell was led by prominent individuals in the Viking Age and that the sitewas a place where travelers and even vagabonds were welcome. The leaders ofHrísbrú/Mosfell most likely encouraged such visits and would use them to improve theirown reputation and political power when possible, although it is difficult to estimate theamount of such traffic.