The caves are possibly older than expected
“You really don’t have words to describe this,” says archaeologist Kristborg Þórsdóttir about her experience of standing inside one of the most intact Viking Age structures, which she is currently leading a study on in Odda á Rangárvellir. These are man-made caves believed to have been excavated in the middle of the tenth century.
“The size of these structures is so great, such large structures have not been studied and certainly not from this time in Iceland.”
In a test excavation in 2018, a standing human form was found at the same time, which was considered a remarkable encounter. It was thought to continue research on it, later it was revealed that a much larger one was connected to it, which is currently being investigated.
“Now that big collapsed cave that our little cave connected to has just been partially opened. We still have to dig further down, we are working to make these conditions safe, this has become a very deep and unsafe rock. It has taken some time.”
Kristborg says that a lot of new and important research is coming to light about the technology that Icelanders had at that time and the traditions that were and still are.
In a race against time
Kristborg also says the research is unique in terms of what is challenging on the ground. Safety on the ground must be carefully considered, among those who excavate the cave, which is somewhat deep.
“This rock is so porous that it crumbles before our eyes,” says Kristborg.
“We only have limited resources and time, and you never know what will happen next year.” Maybe we can move on, maybe not. So always between years something is lost from research, the preservation deteriorates.”
An interdisciplinary study
The study that the group is currently involved in has been ongoing since 2020 and is part of the Odda study, which is an interdisciplinary study of Odda. Its aim is to shed light on the writing culture there in the Middle Ages, and the focus is on the 11th and 12th centuries, when the power of the Oddavers was at its height. However, igneous rocks indicate that the cave that is now being explored was dug before that time.
Before the research began, a number of previously unknown monuments were recorded, including a number of man-made caves and ancient monuments at Kamphól.
The use of the caves is not believed to have lasted for a long time as the sandstone in which they were dug is porous. Did they endure it badly?
A large system of caves
According to Kristborg, the cave that is currently being investigated could be Nautahellir mentioned in Jarteinabók of the holy bishop Þorlák. In the bishop’s account, it is stated that Odda’s Cow Cave collapsed and one bull out of twelve was saved from the ruins for a promise to Þorlák.
“Although this is older than that, it is likely that it was used for livestock. Whether it was that particular bull, we don’t know. But the usage history is naturally longer than we have been able to track yet.”
She says this is a much more complicated story than it seems at first glance.
“These are enormous structures and incredibly large systems of caves that we are only just beginning to understand.”
The rock unsecured
As mentioned before, it has been found that the cave was dug before 1100. According to Kristborgu, it is not unlikely that it fell out of use in the early 12th century. This was somewhat of a surprise to the research team.
“But then there’s a longer and more complicated history here in the use of these slabs and we’re only just beginning to see that, but it’s so extensive that we can only look at a small part now.” So a much, much larger study would have to be launched here with much more personnel if we were to get to the bottom of this and trace this history completely, this history of the use of the caves here.”