Gásir in Eyjafjörður

At Gásir, extensive remains of a medieval port are preserved. The port is mentioned frequently in written sources, indicating that it was the main commercial centre of north Iceland in the 12th to 14th centuries. Archaeological excavations focussed on the 14th-15th century. Sites of semi-permanent shelters or booths were excavated. The position of the buildings indicated that parcels of land had been allocated within the trading post. The site of a large 14th-century wooden church has been studied. It was surrounded by a circular enclosure.

Gásir was a transport hub. The principal finding of the research is that Gásir was not a market, but a transport hub and shipyard. Gásir resembled a modern commercial harbour, where goods were loaded and unloaded, import duties were collected, and border traffic was monitored. Most of the actual trading took place elsewhere.

Finds and relics

At Gásir evidence has been uncovered of sulphur processing (for use in gunpowder), and ironworking, including a quantity of iron nails. Many pottery fragments were also found, probably imports from Germany and England. A number of whetstones and soapstone baking slabs were unearthed; these are likely to have come from Norway.