Eiríksstaðir in Haukadalur
The reconstructed house at Eiríksstaðir
Image: David Beard
(click on the image to enlarge)
Before settling in Greenland, Eirik lived in Eiríksstaðir in Haukadalur in the Dalasýsla region of Iceland.
The site of what was most probably Eirik’s house has been excavated and a reconstruction of the building has been built close to the site of the original.
The ruins of the original house are covered with grass and are not clearly signed until you have reached the spot, which means that most visitors never see them.
The house is a simple turf-walled construction, and one end wall is kept clear of grass and gives a good impression of the way that the turf blocks were used almost like bricks.
Eirik’s voyage to Greenland is mentioned in the Landnámabók:
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Landnámabók (H79, S92) |
Landnámabók (H79, S92) |
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| Herjólfr hét maðr Bárðarson Herjólfssonar hann fór til Grœnlands með Eiríki Herjólfr nam Herjólfsfjörð ok bjó á Herjólfsnesi (H79) Eiríkr nam Eiríksfjörð ok bjó í Brattahlíð en Leifr sonr hans eptir hann. (S92) |
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[A] man was called Herjolf the son of Bard, the son of Herjolf; he went to Greenland with Eirik [the Red]. Herjolf took [claimed] Herjolf’s Fjord and lived at Herjolfsnes. Eirik took Eirik’s Fjord and lived at Brattahlid, and Leif, his son, after him. |
Listen to this in modern Icelandic
Next Page: The Settlement at Brattahlid
The location of Eiríksstaðir
Image: David Beard
(click on the image to enlarge)
The site of the excavation of the original house
Image: David Beard
(click on the image to enlarge)
Detail of the Turf Wall Construction
Image: David Beard
(click on the image to enlarge)