The Settlement Exhibition is built around the excavated remains of one of the oldest longhouses in Reykjavik — discovered in 2001 during construction on Aðalstræti (Reykjavik's oldest street) and dated to around 871 AD, making it one of the earliest Viking Age settlements in Iceland. The museum is named '871±2' for the precise dating made possible by the thin layer of volcanic ash from a major eruption.
The longhouse itself — about 20 metres long, with turf walls and a hearth down the centre — sits in situ under a glass floor, with the excavated remains viewable from walkways above. Multimedia displays reconstruct the appearance of 10th-century Reykjavik (tiny — maybe 10 families in turf houses near the coast), explain the technology and daily life of early settlers, and put the findings in the context of Iceland's broader settlement between about 870 and 930 AD.
Verified Facts
The longhouse dates to around 871 AD
The exhibition was built around the 2001 excavation
The longhouse is about 20 metres long
Iceland's main settlement period was 870-930 AD
Get walking directions
Aðalstræti 16, Reykjavik
