Aðalstræti

Settlement Tales – A Legacy in Words comprises some of the nation’s most renowned documents, many of them written in the twelfth century but relating events that go back as far as 874 AD, when the first settlers are said to have come to Iceland. Recognised by the International World Heritage Programme as having outstanding cultural value, the documents on display include Landnámabók (the Book of the Settlement), Íslendingabók, Kjalnesingasaga, Jónsbók and the Bill of Purchase for Reykjavik (1615).
   
It is precisely Iceland’s literary heritage that has preserved this ancient language and help us remain in touch with the beginnings of our culture. Indeed, the Icelandic language is the very cornerstone of that legacy. These manuscripts have shaped our view of history and given us a unique basis from which to study both our origins as a nation and our long-standing relationship among the other Nordic countries. 
The Settlement Exhibition focuses on the settlement of Iceland in 874 AD and first few decades after that. The artifacts there give us an invaluable insight into the life and times of the first people to inhabit the Reykjavik area and the ways in which they adapted to their new environment. The exhibition is founded on archeological and other scientific research and introduces visitors to the latest facts and interepretations forwarded by a range of experts who have concentrated on this period of our history. 

 
These two very different exhibtions hosted by the Reykjavik City Museum afford an unprecedented view into the ancient origins of Icelandic culture. One is based on archeological findings from the days of the Settlement and the other on ancient documents from the same period. This is also the first time Iceland’s literary heritage and archeological history have been placed side by side for the general public. In addition, the preservation of these precious manuscripts is one of the reasons why UNESCO officially designated Reykjavik as one of its Cities of Literature in 2011. 




Set­tle­ment Tales – A Leg­acy in Words

The ancient manuscripts have shaped our view of history and given us a unique basis from which to study both our origins as a nation and our long-standing relationship among the other Nordic countries.

Settlement Tales – A Legacy in Words