[MR] New Book: Norse in Newfoundland

[Garth Groff]

Noble Friends, Especially all Vikings,

New at the UVA Fine Arts Library: NORSE IN NEWFOUNDLAND, A CRITICAL 
EXAMINATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH AT THE NORSE SITE AT L'ANSE AUX 
MEADOWS, NEWFOUNDLAND by Janet E. Kay (ISBN 9781407309224; our call 
number F1122.9 .K39 2012). This interesting little book is an overview 
and summary of previous excavations at this small Norse settlement in 
Newfoundland, an outlier of the more famous Vineland colony. Its five 
chapters discuss the Norse in the North Atlantic and the Vinland 
settlement, excavations at L'Anse aux Meadows, artifacts from L'Anse aux 
Meadows, dietary and agricultural practices at L'Anse aux Meadows, and 
site occupation and social analysis. The principal evidence for the 
settlement comes from the remains of various structures, dwellings, 
outbuildings and a forge. These are compared to similar structures in 
Iceland, Norway and Greenland. Domestic artifacts are scarce at this 
site, since it was apparently used only briefly, but those artifacts 
found are discussed in detail. The presence of spindle whorls and loom 
weights suggests women were among the settlers, and a sample weighted 
loom from the Faroe Islands is shown for comparison. The text is well 
supported by excavation plans, maps, diagrams, and photos. A 
bibliography is provided, but no index. Altogether, this is a pretty 
neat little book, with lots of information on domestic life for anyone 
in the SCA doing a Viking persona for the 10th-11th centuries.

Yours Aye,

Lord Mungo Napier, Shire of Isenfir's Unofficial Librarian
(aka Garth Groff, UVA Library Cataloging and Metadata Services)