As a burgeoning field of research potential, the bioarchaeology of children in Iceland also has the power to inform current archaeological practice.
Paper long abstract:
As a young discipline in Iceland, bioarchaeology has at times relied upon and, conversely, refuted standing assumptions of the island nation's past. Infants and children are a relatively well-represented proportion of the archaeological record and a growing body of evidence from diverse sites such as Skeljastaðir, Skriðuklaustur, Hofstaðir, Keldudalur, and Skálholt indicates that the young were an integral, valued part of medieval society. Children shared many of the same experiences as adults in life and treatment in death, as burial patterns indicate. Case studies and field reports continue to guide research practice. However, curation practices and treatment of these remains post-excavation can greatly impact upon their preservation and research potential. With a review of current practice, highlighting the unique nature of the growing collection in Iceland, key points regarding the collection and its relevance from a research perspective are informative of undiscovered aspects of Icelandic archaeology.