17:00-18:00

Reception at the National Museum.

Welcome by Guðný Helgadóttir, Ministry of Education and Culture and

Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir Director of the National Museum of Iceland

20:00

Public lecture in the University of Iceland, Hátíðarsalur, main building:

Birgitta Wallace, archaeologist emeritus, Parks Canada: L’Anse aux Meadows: Different Disciplines, Divergent Views

09:00-09:15

09:15-10:30

Anne Pedersen: Jelling and the Jelling Project

Kevin Edwards: Is there a Norse 'footprint' in the North Atlantic pollen record?

Discussion

10:50-12:00

David Griffiths: Landscapes of power in northern and western Britain

Nancy Edwards: Viking Age Settlement and Society in North-West Wales:

the Sculptural Evidence

Andres S. Dobat: Danevirke revisited -or- how powerful were the Viking Age kings?

Discussion

12:10-13:00

Public lecture in Háskólatorg, lecture hall 102 - University of Iceland:

Else Roesdahl, professor in Medieval Archaeology in Aarhus, Denmark: Scandinavia in the Melting Pot, c. 950-1000

14:00–15:30

Gareth Williams: My cup runneth over.

Julie Bond: Excavations at Hamar and Underhoull, Unst, Shetland

Mark Blackburn: Torksey: Finds from the Viking wintercamp of 872/3

Richard Hall: New Discoveries in Viking Age York

Discussion

16:00-17:30

Claus Feveile: How can we define a manor from archaeological sources? A case study near Ribe, Denmark

Dagfinn Skre: Kaupang - Where did the settlers come from?

Barbara Crawford: The 'stofa'; a colonial feature of North Atlantic society

Discussion

17:40

09:00-10:30

Eva Andersson Strand: Textile Production in Hedeby and Birka

Sven Kalmring: The harbour of Hedeby

Volker Hilberg: Hedeby's fall and Slesvig's rise - continuities and changes in the 11th century

Discussion

10:50-12:00

Ingvild Øye: Settlements and agrarian landscapes - chronological issues and archaeological challenges. Norwegian cases

Lesley Abrams: Monumental Identity: the hogback in the British Isles

Discussion

12:10-13:00

Congress council meeting

14:00-17:00

Excursion to Reykjanes

Krýsuvík - Geothermal area

Húshólmi - Viking Age farm site. The Archaeological Heritage Agency

19:30-21:00

09:00-10:30

Clare Downham: Viking memory in the Scottish Statistical Accounts

Søren Sindbæk: Innovation and social networks in Viking period towns

Torun Zachrison: The Archaeology of Rimbert

Birgitta Hårdh: Uppåkra and Lund. A central place and a town

Discussion

10:50-12:00

Kenneth Jonsson: Coin circulation on Iceland and the North Atlantic

Svein Harald Gullbekk: Money and its use in the saga society

Discussion

12:10-13:00

14:00-15:30

Jesse Byock: The Longhouse at Hrísbrú in Mosfellsdalur

Haki Antonsson: Memories of the Conversion: Missionary Saints and the Christianization of Scandinavia

Guðrún Nordal: The meaning of the settlement stories in the sagas of Icelanders

Discussion

17:00-18:00

09:00-10:30

Guðrún Sveinbjarnardóttir: The Reykholt shieling project: some preliminary results

Gavin Lucas: Excavations at Hofstaðir

Colleen Batey: Hofstadir: can its status be determined by the artefacts?

Discussion

10:50-12:00

Dawn Hadley: Protecting the dead in Viking-Age England

Silke Eisenschmidt: The graves from Hedeby

Discussion

10:50-12:00

Daniel Sävborg: Haugbúar, haugbrot and sagas

Christina Lee: Sickness and society in Old Icelandic sources

Discussion

12:10-13:00

14:00-15:30

John Hines: Raiding and Trade along the Bristol Channel in the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Centuries

Máire Ní Mhaonaigh: What Vikings became: the transformation of Vikings in Medieval Irish Literary Texts

Neil Price: Pirates of the Atlantic: revolution and resistance in the Viking Age

Discussion

16:00-17:30

Staffan Fridell: Graphic variation and change in the younger futhark

James Knirk: The Viðey rune-stick: Iceland's earliest runic inscription

Þórgunnur Snædal: What kind of name is Jafnakollr? A newly found runic inscription in Sweden and a by-name in Landnámabók 

Discussion

17:30-18:30

10:00-11:30

Anne-Sofie Gräslund: Similarities or Differences - Reflections on Viking Identity

Mogens Skaaning Høegsberg: Indications of identity? The cultural identity of the Greenland Norse

Lisbeth Imer: Ave Maria – Christian runic inscriptions from Greenland

Discussion

11:50-13:30

Olwyn Owen: Norse influence at Govan on the Firth of Clyde

Gunnar Karlsson: Love in Early Iceland

Judith Jesch: The Norse Gods in England

Adolf Friðriksson: Viking Archaeology in Iceland – Another Half Century

Discussion

Invitation to the next congress/End of Congress

12:30-15:00

12:30-14:00

17:00-18:00

Delegates arrived in Reykjavík on Sunday, August 16th 2009. At 17:00 they were welcomed by Guðný Helgadóttir, from the Ministry of culture and education, and Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, director of the National Museum, in a reception at the National Museum of Iceland. Following the reception, at 20:00, Birgitta Wallace, archaeologist emeritus at Parks Canada, opened the congress by giving the first lecture in the University’s Main building. The lecture, on L’Anse aux Meadows research project, was the first of five public lectures and was well attended.

Many members of the Viking Congress gathered outside th University of Iceland.

Formal proceedings began early the following morning, August 17th, with a formal opening speech by Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of Iceland and Patron of the 16th Viking Congress. This was followed by a busy day of lectures on the theme “Settlements and Viking Society”. At 12:00 Else Roesdahl, professor in Medieval Archaeology at Aarhus University, gave the second public lecture, entitled “Scandinavia in the Melting Pot, c. 950-1000”.

The first day was closed with a reception at Bessastaðir, the presidential residency, hosted by Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. The President gave a talk, welcoming the guests, and before leaving Patrick Wallace said a few words and thanked the President on behalf of the congress delegates. When back in central Reykjavík many of the participants proceded with the social program at the congress bars, Fjalakötturinn and Uppsalir.

Patrick Wallace thanking Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson for inviting the Viking Congress to Bessastaðir.

On Tuesday morning papers were still devoted to the first theme of “Settlements and Viking Society”. At noon Przemyslaw Urbanczyk, professor of archaeology at the Polish Academy of Science in Warsaw gave a public lecture on the formation of an Icelandic identity based on archaeological information. After lunch at the University’s canteen Háma, and a hasty group-photo opportunity, two buses left for an excursion to Krýsuvík and Húshólmi south of the capital.

The first stop was at the Seltún geothermal area in Krýsuvík, where participants enjoyed the smell of sulphur and spectacular scenery of boiling water and mud springs. From Seltún the the journey continued on decent roads for a few kilometres when suddenly the buses proceded onto a narrow mud track leading, along the edge of the lavafield, towards the southern shoreline in the distance. For a critical hour, or so, it was uncertain whether or not all participants, or in fact the buses, would make it to the end.

Beyond all hope, however, after several incidents, both buses succeded and participants were welcomed by Agnes Stefánsdóttir, from the Archaeological Heritage Agency of Iceland, who escorted the parade into the lavafield towards Húshólmi. After a refreshing walk through the rough lava in the authentic weather of the south coast, participants were rewarded with a warm welcome and refreshments, in the form of fermented shark and Icelandic brennivín, by Kristín Huld Sigurðardóttir, Kristinn Magnússon and Gunnar Bollason, at the AHA’s mobile bar. While enjoying the traditional delicacies, Agnes explained the archaeology and nature of the buildings in the lavafield at this Viking age site.

From Húshólmi the drivers again managed the impossible and the whole group was delivered safely to the Reykjavík 871±2 Museum in central Reykjavík, where the Reykjavík City Museum hosted a reception. A welcoming talk was given by Guðný Gerður Gunnarsdóttir, director of the Reykjavík City Museum, and after enjoying the museum’s outstanding exhibition James Knirk thanked her and her staff for the wonderful reception on behalf of the guests. Afterwards many of the participants continued socializing at the congress bar conveniently located above the museum.

Wednesday, August 19th, was a day fully packed with lectures starting early in the morning. Before lunch break lectures were devoted to the theme “Settlements and Viking Society”, while after lunch to the theme of “Viking Age Iceland”. At noon James Graham-Campbell, professor emeritus of Medieval Archaeology at University College London, gave a public lecture on silver hoards from Viking Age Iceland. Lectures went on until 15:30 in the afternoon when the social program took over and delegates attended the Manuscript exhibition in the Culture House, guided by Gísli Sigurðsson. After an interesting visit the street was crossed to attend a reception at the Central Bank of Iceland,and The National Museum’s Numismatic Collection. Anton Holt, curator at the banks’ collection, welcomed the guests who then could look through the collection while enjoying the refreshments kindly (but ironically) provided by the bank. Again the socializing proceded at the congress bar into the night.

On the fourth day, Thursday August 20th, the congress moved its venue from the capital of Reykjavík to the medieval centre of Reykholt, home to chieftain and writer Snorri Sturluson. After being loaded with luggage, food and other Viking-necessities the buses left Reykjavík early in the morning. The first stop on the way was made in the outskirts of the city, at Þingnes by lake Elliðavatn, perhaps the earliest assembly site in Iceland.

After Guðmundur Ólafsson had explained the site, the buses stopped at Hrísbrú in Mosfellsdalur, where Jesse Byock described the Viking-age site and explained the Mosfell project.

At Þingvellir the Congress was welcomed by Einar Á. E. Sæmundsen, the interpretive officer of the National Park, who gave a presentation and an excellent guided tour of the World Heritage Site.

Einar Sæmundsen lectures the Congress by the Law rock at Þingvellir assembly site.

Eager delegates of the Viking

Congress disappear into the deep

dark Surtshellir cave.

Houseruin and pile of bones at the

Viking age outlaw shelter in the

Surtshellir cave.

Finally the buses stopped at the beautiful Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls before entering Reykholt. After a chaotic and at times almost fatally stressful checking inn at the hotel all participants were privileged with a bed to sleep in, and the formal program could proceed.

Svein H. Gullbekk, Mark Blackburn

and Kenneth Jonson at the Barnafoss

waterfall.

Friday the 21st was filled with lectures all day, devoted to all themes. At noon, Thomas McGovern, professor at Hunter College, CUNY, New York, gave a public lecture about Vikings in the International Polar Year: bloodthirsty, sustainable and educational.

The lecture hall in Reykholt.

After the day’s sessions Guðrún Sveinbjarnardóttir gave a tour of the archaeological site of Reykholt and The Rev. Geir Waage gave an insight into the history of Reykholt. In the exhibition locales under the church.

Guðrún Sveinbjarnardóttir with the Congress on top of the excavated farmmound in Reykholt.

Bergur Þorgeirsson, director of Snorrastofa, introduced Snorrastofa to the Congress while delegates enjoyed red and white wine generously donated by the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish embassies – and other Viking beverages. Afterwards the Reykholt Church choir gave a most memorable concert in the Reykholt church.

After a lovely dinner at the Reykholt hotel restaurant the socializing continued at the hotel bar (and not in Snorralaug) into the night.

On Saturday the 22nd the Congress went on a Saga trail to Snæfellsnes peninsula and Breiðafjörður fjord. The first stop was at Eiríksstaðir, where the archaeology of the site and the reconstructed hall of Eirikur the Red’s farm were explained by Sigurður Hrafn Jökulsson, the keeper of the site, and Guðmundur Ólafsson.

The Viking Congress at Snorri’s pool

in Reykholt.

Guðmundur Ólafsson and Sigurður

H. Jökulsson outside the recon-

structed farm at Eiríksstaðir.

(Foto Else Roesdahl).

In the reconstructed Viking age hall

at Eiríksstaðir.

On the bus, driving through the Saga landscapes between stops, congress members were entertained with appropriate passages from the Sagas read by a carefully selected group of readers. After lunch at Hotel Stykkishólmur, the congress delegates had the opportunity to walk around the town during the interesting local festival of “Danish Days” until it was time to board the boat for a trip around Breiðafjörður fjord, noted for its rich bird life, beautiful rock formations and many historical sites. Delicious seafood was hauled in and, in contrast to national tradition, enjoyed fresh with a glass of good wine.

Members of the Viking Congress

eagerly taste the fresh catch of

seafood on board.

On the journey back towards Reykholt a short stop was made at Borg, where John Hines read Egill Skallagrímsson´s poem Sonatorrek.

Back in Reykholt the Congress Council met for a second brief meeting to discuss the draft version for the Organisation of the Congress as well as accepting an invitation from Scotland to host the next congress.

The Congress Dinner, enjoyed at the Reykholt hotel restaurant, included several surprise performances and talks. Afterwards all delegates, as well as the staff of Snorrastofa and Reykholt church, were invited to a Viking-party at the old school building where they once again enjoyed surprising amounts of Viking brew in cans and bottles, now well familiar to all delegates. After discussing the matter of bathing with The Rev. Geir Waage a joint verdict was that bathing in Snorri’s laug was “not allowed – but not forbidden”. Socializing thus continued at various locations on the Reykholt manor into the night and early morning.

Sunday 23rd, the last day of the Congress continued with presentations, under mixed themes, until lunchtime. After a common lunch the Congress ended with a formal invitation by Olwyn Owen to the next Viking Congress in Shetland in 2013.

At 14.00 most Congress delegates went back to Reykjavik, while a brave flock of some 30 people, equipped with a still surprising amount of Viking brew, took the Post Congress Tour bus to North Iceland.  After a stop at the natural hill forth of Borgarvirki, the group got a well deserved rest at Hólar in Hjaltadalur, bishopric of Northern Iceland.

On the following morning the flock awoke to heavy rain and dark skies at Hólar. A few brave souls, despite this, began the day with a horribly cold bath in the Holar swimming pool. After referring with the guides of the day, Ragnheiður Traustadóttir, director of the Hólar Archaeological Project, archaeologist Jennica Einebrant Svensson and Guðný Zoёga, head of the Archaeological department of the Skagafjörður Museum, the programme was rearranged and the result was that all sites were visited in good and dry weather.

The old local assembly at Hegranes, and the Keldudalur site were visited under the guidance of Ragnheiður, Jennica and Guðný. At Víðimýri turf church Einar Örn Einarsson, keeper of the church, showed the group around and after a lovely lunch at Áskaffi in Glaumbær, the group was welcomed to the Glaumbær museum by Guðný Zoёga on behalf of Museum director Sigríður Sigurðardóttir.

In the afternoon Ragnheiður lead the group to the medieval harbour at Kolkuós, the reconstructed medieval Auðunarstofa and the archaeological sites at Hólar as well as the Viking age remains at Hof in Hjaltadalur. After dinner many spent the evening at the archaeological lab at Hólar. Some explored the turf house farm at Hólar, with torches, and experienced the darkness in these old dwelling houses.

Guðný Zoëga in front of the Glaum-

bær turfhouse farm points out the

Viking age farm-site.

The Post Congress tour at the medie-

val harbor at Kolkuós. The eroded

excavation site is in the background.

On the 25th the tour went on to Eyjafjörður. A first stop was made at the medieval monastery site Möðruvellir where Professor Bjarni E. Guðleifsson welcomed the group in the Möðruvellir church and introduced it to the history of the farm and manor.

Ragnheiður Traustadóttir on the main excavation site of the Hólar project.

After enjoying coffee and “kleinur” at the old Möðruvellir theatre the journey continued to the medieval harbour at Gásir where Þóra Pétursdóttir explained the site and the Gásir excavation project.

Þóra Pétursdóttir prepares the group for a tour at Gásir, the medieval harbor site.

Haraldur Þór Egilsson, director of the Akureyri Museum, welcomed the group to the Akureyri city Museum. After a picnic lunch in the Museum garden Haraldur introduced the museum exhibitions. Before leaving Akureyri the group had a quick stroll through the town centre. From Akureyri the bus headed for Mývatnssveit with a short stop at the old Laufás turf house farm and Goðafoss waterfall.

At Laufás turfhouse farm, repairs

of an old turf wall could be seen.

At Hofstaðir Adolf Friðriksson presented the excavations of the large Viking age hall, pit house and other remains at the site.

John Hines and Torun Zachrisson

in an intense discussion at the

Goðafoss waterfall.

After a fantastic dinner buffet dinner at Narfastaðir guesthouse in Reykjadalur, many participants went for a visit to the geothermal baths in Mývatnssveit to relax their weary bones. Some wished they could have stayed there longer…perhaps forever.

Adolf Friðriksson points out the large pithouse at Hofstaðir in Mývatnssveit, accompanied by some Congress delegates and large swarms of flies.

On Wednesday August 26th, the last day of the Post Congress Tour, the unusual and dramatic lava formations at Dimmuborgir and the smelly geothermal area at Námaskarð were visited.

An energetic group made it all the

way to the Elf-church in Dimmuborgir.

Leaving the Mývatnssveit area the tour headed towards Laxárdalur through the Hólasandur sand desert where the beautiful old turf house farm at Þverá in Laxárdalur, with the indoor creek, was inspected.

Daniel Sävborg and James Graham-Campbell study a steaming pile of stones at Námaskarð.

The farmer Áskell Jónasson and Þóra

Pétursdóttir in frornt of the old farm

at Þverá in Laxárdalur.

Part of the small fresh water creek

that runs through the turfhouse

farm at Þverá, for cooling the milk

in the dairy.

A beautifully proportioned and well

built gable of one of the turfhouses

at Þverá.

After a short stop at Grenjaðarstaður turf farm the group headed back to Akureyri where the Post Congress Tour came to a formal end with a garden party and BBQ at Þóra’s in-laws’.

Else Roesdahl and Mark Blackburn discover an old gravestone with runic inscription at Grenjaðarstaður.

Some took the plane back to Reykjavík, while most of the participants went with the bus and arrived in the capital around midnight. Many even got a few hours sleep before catching the flight early in the morning, bringing them back to “normal life”.

Exhausted but happy delegates at

the end of the Post Congress Tour

in Akureyri.

Með góðum kveðjum frá Íslandi!

Anton Holt

Gísli Sigurðsson

Guðmundur Ólafsson

Svavar Sigmundsson

Þóra Pétursdóttir