Skriðuklaustur - making history (4:4)

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers in this project will have the unique opportunity to join one of the most exciting archaeological projects in Iceland! We will be working at the archaeological project at Skri?uklaustur (e. The monastery at Skri?a), which started in 2002 and its aim is to investigate, through an archaeological excavation, the monastery that was operated on the farmstead Skri?a in Flj?tsdalur Valley, East Iceland, during the period from 1493 to the Reformation in 1550. Our tasks in this project will be mainly connected with construction and renovation of the walls of the 16th century monastery. We will help to build up stonewalls, turfing and putting wood material into the ruins. The working plan will be very flexible and it will depend on the needs of our local hosts and of course on the weather conditions.

ACCOMMODATION: We will be lodged in a building located approximately 5 km from our working site (monastery excavations), equipped with kitchen and living room. A sleeping bag is needed. We will have breakfast and dinner at the accommodation; while lunch will be served at the caf? in Skri?uklaustur on working days. The kitchen will be available for us to cater ourselves on weekends. Food ingredients will be provided; we will share the duties of preparing and cooking meals. Please do not forget some traditional food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: We will work in Skri?uklaustur at Flj?tsdalur, located 40 km from the biggest town in the East of Iceland, Egilssta?ir (pop. 2,300) and about 650 km from Reykjav?k. It is part of Flj?tsdalsh?ra?, (pop. of 3.700) at 8.884 km? is the largest Icelandic municipality. The monastery at Skri?a, named Skri?uklaustur, was the youngest of the seven monasteries and two nunneries in operation in Iceland during the medieval period, but within a short time, it became one of the richest. It is thought that this increase in material wealth was due to Skri?uklaustur having been the only monastery in East Iceland. Nowadays, Skri?uklaustur has a local centre of culture and history. The house was built in 1939 and is one of Iceland's most important buildings. There is a museum about the writer Gunnar Gunnarsson in the house. It is also a residence for artists, writers and scholars, both Icelandic and foreign. At Skri?uklaustur there are as well exhibitions available for visitors and many events organised concerning local culture and the nature of East Iceland. The ruins of the 16th century monastery with archaeological excavation are located nearby. The East Fjords is a region of a special landscape, dominated by long, narrow fjords and steep mountains. This is one of the oldest regions of Iceland shaped by glaciers in the Ice Age. The biggest forest in Iceland and also wild reindeers are found in Flj?tsdalur. LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp, but high proficiency is not a requirement.

TERMINAL: Closest International Airports: Keflavik/Reykjavik (KEF); nearest domestic airport and bus stop is Egilssta?ir (EGS). The docking port for the Norr?na ferry connecting Iceland with the Faroe Islands, Denmark and Europe is located in the town of Sey?isfj?r?ur, 30 Km from Egilssta?ir. SEEDS organises the 'minibus option', a shared transport from Reykjavik to the camps and vice-versa, which apart from being cheaper and more convenient, allows volunteers to meet fellow campers and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting and tourist sites. SPECIAL REMARKS / EXTRAS: Participation fee EUR 140. SEEDS and the local host will organise several free-time activities to explore and discover the area as: excursions, horse-back riding or fishing for trout or a highland trip/mountain hike.

AGE: 18+