Visit Herjólfsbærinn (Herjólfur´s farmhouse), Heimaey, Iceland

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The farmhouse in Herjólfsdalur is a prototype of what might have been the oldest human habitation signs in Iceland. The remains of the farm was discovered in 1924, when the first director of the National Museum was doing excavation work in Herjólfsdalur valley. He discovered 3 ruins; one long-house and two smaller houses. It seems like it was the long-house of Herjólfur Bárðarson, the first settler of Vestmannaeyjar islands. So the old remains might date back to the early 9th century. An extensive digging took place in Herjólfsdalur from 1971-1983 - being delayed by the volcanic eruption in Heimaey in Vestmannaeyjar islands in 1973. The remains of 8 houses were discovered from 4-5 building periods. The conclusion was that the oldest remains might date back to the 8th or even 7th century. Iceland was considered to be settled around 874, so this is controversial. In 2006 a farm was built in Herfjólfsdalur in the liking of the farm that stood here in the 10th century. The farm is a long-house and an outhouse, built with rocks and turf.

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