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The Viking World: A History in ObjectsMain MenuGallery viewA galleryTag Cloudtag cloud pageThemesA path of thematic categoriesAuthor IndexExplore the collection by authorWorks CitedReferencesAdam Bigelow3afa9c7ecebf516bba6609664b1b12f79c54bf77Caitlin Donahue61b7e986e7c71d400e5c803912ed83c0cf65252fCaroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7eaEdward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386eTyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833Brittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2cCarlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01Moira McConnell710633400590ea38533ea3412c01fc5056288180Clara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1Elise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69Cameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295Alexander Christopher Newkirk019c2f5b38c043507251d1789e2fdf47e61c3b7fBenja Reilly816c23aa0d444213fb2d1ef33555a15617e08228Oliver Statenc625ae8c3926f5e1a4268bc91d6a6f4cdb1e7fb6Liam Sullivanaa3a1dccb90c7fe4646b61c4af594abbb0c5574aRead Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611eadAliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
Hook with Rivet
12017-05-21T23:29:32-07:00Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386e164562Norse iron hook with rivet.plain2017-05-21T23:35:26-07:00Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386e
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12017-05-24T10:09:20-07:00Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707deaMap ViewAustin Mason2An interactive map of all the objects in the collectiongoogle_maps2017-05-24T11:39:30-07:00Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
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1media/hrh2003_0809_060338AA.JPG2017-05-21T23:42:29-07:00Hook with Rivet9object pageplain2017-09-21T17:05:58-07:00This plain, riveted hook recovered from the Hrísheimar excavations in Iceland acts as a tiny window into the life of the average Norse settler. Made of iron, these hooks would have been easy and cheap to produce, which explains why this one was recovered along with dozens of other similar objects.
The excavations also revealed a massive cache of archaeofauna.[1] Remains from hundreds of cattle, pigs, and sheep along with thousands of fish indicate that Hrísheimar was a significant settlement. This knowledge lends significant context to the recovered hook. Carbon and volcanic dating of the faunal remains indicates that the hook was likely deposited sometime between 871 and 930 AD, meaning that it may have been brought by some of Iceland’s very first Norse settlers. The Landnámabók (“Book of Settlements”) describes in thorough detail the discovery and settlement of the new island during the 9th and 10th centuries.[2]
A simple hook likely had a multitude of uses. However, this one—and many others—were made of iron. They were made to last. This fact, plus the riveted design, would support the conclusion that the hook was permanently attached to another object—perhaps a house, boat, or drying rack.
Iceland rose to an important station over the years, producing famous Norse figures such as the skaldic poet Snorri Sturluson. As this hook demonstrates, those who chose a new life in Iceland brought with them every possible advantage from the mainland. This preparation demonstrates a clear intent by the Norse to settle the island, rather than an occupation of convenience by raiders looking for a base of operations.
