Wild fowl egg consumption in postmedieval Iceland. SEM analysis of archaeological eggshells from the Bishop’s seat at Skálholt, southwest Iceland

•Iceland.•Eggshells.•Wildfowl.•SEM. An analysis of 20 samples of eggshells using SEM imaging successfully identified the samples to species level. The samples came from an archaeological site in Iceland dating to the 17th and 18th century, an elite ecclesiastical centre and Bishop’s household. The e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of archaeological science, reports reports, 2021-08, Vol.38, p.103060, Article 103060
Main Authors: Anamthawat-Jónsson, Kesara, Sigurgíslason, Hlynur, Lucas, Gavin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Eggshells
Iceland
Identification
SEM
Wildfowl
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Summary:•Iceland.•Eggshells.•Wildfowl.•SEM. An analysis of 20 samples of eggshells using SEM imaging successfully identified the samples to species level. The samples came from an archaeological site in Iceland dating to the 17th and 18th century, an elite ecclesiastical centre and Bishop’s household. The eggs are all from wildfowl, specifically mallards, Arctic skua, common guillemot and razorbill, and we know from historical sources that the harvesting of wild bird eggs for consumption was a common practice. The present study contributes to a better understanding of everyday life at the bishopric of Skálholt during the Early Modern period in Iceland.
ISSN:2352-409X
DOI:10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103060