Gisla-Saga Project.   Westfjords in Iceland

Haukadalur Valley which is near the fishing village Þingeyri (Thingeyri) is very peaceful, surrounded by beautiful tall mountains.   It is the site of love, jealousy, murder and revenge. It is here that most of the Gisla-Saga took place.  

The saga

Gisla-Saga is one of the better known sagas in Iceland since it is taught in the elementary schools. It has been said that the story itself, so well written, is enough to travel with if you are interested in seeing the sites where the saga took place.

Þorbjörn (Thorbjorn) sur, who was Gisli´s father had been driven away from Norway with his family. He landed his ship in the mouth of the Haukadalur River and made his home at Saeból. Gisli, Thorbjorns son, along with his brother and their wives had made their home at Hóll (Hill). Hóll stood on a hill called Gislahill. It is in the middle of a field with a beautiful view over the Haukadalur Valley. Below the Gislahill was once a stream that Gisli had waded in on his way from Saeból and back when he killed Thorgrim, a heathen priest. The stream is now dry but because of this murder, Gisli was sentenced to exile. He was an outlaw for many years, until he was killed in Geirthofsfjordur. Right below the slope where Thorgrim was killed is a pond called Seftjörn. Here took place winter sports such as ball games, which actually lead to the death of Thorgrím.

The Gisla-Saga projekt

These sites and many others are part of the Gisla-Saga project that is on going in the Westfjords in Iceland.   All part of a bigger project called “Destination Viking Sagaland”, whose objective is to make an assessment of the Viking heritage and tourism.

Dorothee Lubecki, representative of travel affairs in the Westfjords has been preparing this project, with others for the past two years and invited the local people in Thingeyri to a meeting in march this year. She informed the guests of what has been going on for the past year and what the plan looked like for the next three years, which included involving the local people and others that are interested in participating in the project.   Since Thingeyri is located so close to Haukadalur Valley it was considered a good choice for the center of the project. A lot of good ideas have emerged from the discussion   of this project and some have been put into use, like guided walking tours in Haukadalur Valley where as said before most of the Gisla-Saga took place.

What has been going on in Thingeyri since the meeting?

To start out with a course in tablet-weaving was held. Participants learned the basics of tablet weaving. The colorful belts that can be made are used to decorate the clothing from Viking times. Edda Graichin was the instructor.    

Then there was a course in sewing clothes and shoes from the Viking age. It was held on weekends in April and May. Over 30 costumes were being sewn by participants from the age of 13 to 76 years old.    The costumes were sewn out of hand-woven wool, linen and silk and the shoes were sewn out of lambs leather. Kristína Bergman, from Reykjavík was the instructor. She has designed and sewn all the Viking costumes that are on display in the Perlunni í Reykjavík.

Other activities in Thingeyri

Photo:Sigmundur Þórðarsson

For the past years a festival has been held in the summer in Thingeyri. A large tent is put up where people can sell there handmade merchandise, baked goods and much more. The festival is called “Dýrafjarðardagar” and last year we were visited by Vikings from Reykjavik which have specialized in fighting with swords and a few of our own Vikings

Photo:SÞ

(the ones that were able to finish their costumes). Viking tents were borrowed from a Viking association in Hafnarfirði that holds its own Viking festival each year.

Gallery Koltra, a handwork's group in Thingeyri, specializes in selling handmade goods has also taken interest in the Gisla-Saga project.

What lies ahead?

Photo:SÞ

The outcome of the courses that have been held in connection with this project show that the local people in Thingeyri are very interested in participating. On the last day of the sewing course five people were chosen to prepare the next stages of the project which is to form a committee or association around the project that has its own manager and steering committee. They held several meetings with Dorothee to prepare for a general meeting with all interested parties in Thingeyri. The meeting was in held in the community house in Thingeyri. The preparation committee explained their ideas of how they see this association take part in the whole project and with their own projects in the future.   A steering committee of five people was nominated and two people as substitutes, their job will be to raise funds and carry out cost estimates, time plans and prepare more courses in connection with the Viking Ages. For example, building a little Viking town making tools, jewelry and other handcrafts. They will also, in cooperation with other members of the association   create and promote a positive image for the project of Gisla Sursson in order to increase the flow of guests to the area and put into action some of the ideas that have already arisen and the ones that come to mind in the next few years.

Photo:Sonja Elín Thompson

What has been done since the committee was established?

They have established a non-profit organization and found a name for the project which is West Vikings or in Icelandic Vikingar a Vestfjordum . They are preparing a website which will be launched on the internet this year and designing saga signs that will be in three languages. The signs will be put up on the most interesting places by the roads in Westfjords according to the most important events in Gisla Saga. This will be done in cooperation with the Traffic Ministry.

Photo: Páll Önundarsson

The drawings and budget plans for the building of the first part of the Viking site were agreed upon and we are very proud to say that it was possible to construct and use this summer when the yearly festival “Dyrafjardardagar” was held.

By   Sonja Elín Thompson -Thingeyri, Iceland

first published in "Viking Heritage" 3/2004