Evaluation of archaeoentomology for reconstructing rural life-ways and the process of modernisation in 19th and early 20th century Iceland
This thesis addresses the potential of archaeoentomology for reconstructing rural life-ways and the processes of modernisation and the implementation of âimprovementâ ideas in 19th- and early 20th-century Iceland. Previous archaeoentomological research employed insect remains to reconstruct activity areas, domestic practices and aspects of past living conditions in Icelandic turf farmhouses. However, as there is a lack of comparative modern and ethnoarchaeological data from analogous buildings, the ecological requirements of insect taxa exploiting indoor habitats and the processes by which they may become incorporated in the archaeological record are still poorly understood. To address this lacuna, this thesis presents two studies â a modern analogues study and an ethnoarchaeological one â aimed specifically at testing the potential and limitations of archaeoentomology in the Icelandic context. These studies provide an analytical framework for the reconstruction of life-ways and living conditions on two 19th- and early 20th-century Icelandic sites: Hornbrekka and VatnsfjĂ¶rĂ°ur. These case studies also explore how insect remains may help to improve our understanding of the social and economic changes
Forbes, VĂ©ronique
Insects ; Fossil ; Entomology
Evaluation of archaeoentomology for reconstructing rural life-ways and the process of modernisation in 19th and early 20th century Iceland. This thesis addresses the potential of archaeoentomology for reconstructing rural life-ways and the processes of modernisation and the implementation of âimprovementâ ideas in 19th- and early 20th-century Iceland. Previous archaeoentomological research employed insect remains to reconstruct activity areas, domestic practices and aspects of past living conditions in Icelandic turf farmhouses. However, as there is a lack of comparative modern and ethnoarchaeological data from analogous buildings, the ecological requirements of insect taxa exploiting indoor habitats and the processes by which they may become incorporated in the archaeological record are still poorly understood. To address this lacuna, this thesis presents two studies â a modern analogues study and an ethnoarchaeological one â aimed specifically at testing the potential and limitations of archaeoentomology in the Icelandic context. These studies provide an analytical framework for the reconstruction of life-ways and living conditions on two 19th- and early 20th-century Icelandic sites: Hornbrekka and VatnsfjĂ¶rĂ°ur. These case studies also explore how insect remains may help to improve our understanding of the social and economic changes
evaluation reconstruct rural_life process modernisation iceland address potential reconstruct rural_life process modernisation implementation improvement idea iceland previous employ insect remain reconstruct activity_area domestic practice aspect past living_condition icelandic however lack comparative modern ethnoarchaeological data analogous building ecological requirement insect taxa exploit habitat process may become incorporated archaeological_record still_poorly understood address_lacuna present study modern analogue study ethnoarchaeological aim specifically test_potential limitation icelandic context study provide_analytical framework reconstruction life living_condition icelandic site case_study also_explore insect remains may_help improve social_economic_change