Animal-Human Relationships in Medieval Iceland: From Farm-Settlement to Sagas

This book explores the complex relationships between humans and animals in medieval Iceland, examining how domestic animals were used in settlement, household, and agricultural contexts. It takes a multidisciplinary approach, analyzing physical and textual sources to understand how animals were viewed and treated by Icelanders. The book argues that animals should not be seen solely as symbols or objects, but as subjects in their own right with their own affective relationships with humans. It provides a resource for understanding these archaeological sites and textual narratives differently, as products of multispecies communities in which animals and humans lived, worked, and died together.

Format: Hardback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 30 August 2022
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

A comprehensive exploration of the intricate connections between humans and animals, both in reality and in artistic representations, is presented in this captivating book. During the medieval era in Iceland, domestic animals assumed diverse roles within the imaginative world of the Icelanders. They served as companions in settlement, loyal household allies, and even violent offenders, fostering kin and serving as surrogate wives. These animals were indispensable members of the multispecies communities that emerged from the ninth century onwards, contributing significantly to the fabric of society.

To delve into the realm of early Icelandic domestic animals, this book employs a multidisciplinary approach, examining their physical and textual contexts. Through meticulous analysis of the spaces and places associated with Icelandic farms and farming landscapes, as well as textual sources such as The Book of Settlements, the earliest Icelandic laws, and various episodes from the Sagas and Tales of Icelanders, a rich tapestry of information is unraveled. By approaching animal-human relationships from a multifaceted perspective, the book recognizes animals not merely as symbols, metaphors, or objects, but as active subjects in profound affective relationships with their human co-settlers. These human-animal interactions become the focal point of intense exploration, delight, anxiety, and condemnation in subsequent textual narratives.

By inviting readers to engage in a critical examination of how these sources shape, embrace, or reject animal-human relationships, the book offers a valuable resource for understanding these archaeological sites and textual narratives in a fresh and innovative way. It encourages us to perceive these narratives as products of multispecies communities, where animals and humans coexisted, collaborated, and experienced the joys and challenges of life together. Through this lens, we gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate web of interdependence and the profound impact that animals had on the development and evolution of Icelandic society.

In conclusion, this book is a groundbreaking contribution to the field of animal studies, archaeology, and cultural history. It sheds light on the complex and multifaceted relationships between humans and animals, challenging our preconceptions and broadening our understanding of the rich tapestry of human-animal interactions throughout history. By exploring the physical and textual contexts of early Icelandic domestic animals, this book provides a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike, offering a fresh perspective on the past and the potential for meaningful connections between humans and other species in the present and future.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781843846437