Archaeological research at Reykholt   Excavation at Reykholt   The National Museum of Iceland was conducting an archaeological investigation of the farm site at Reykholt in the summers 1998-2002. Excavations were carried out between 1988 and 1989 on the old farm site, and work was resumed in the summer of  1998. Efforts have been concentrated on the old farm site and the tunnel that leads to Snorri's pool. Tradition has it that Snorri Sturluson was responsible for the construction of the pool "Snorralaug". The oldest description of the pool as it looks now, however, dates to the early part of the 18th century. It has been extensively repaired and is now a listed monument as defined by national law. Two channels run into the tub, leading from the hot spring Skrifla that is located to the north-east of the pool. The remains of two steam channels have also been discovered, leading from Skrifla. One running towards the old farm site and the other into the ruins of the medieval houses.     Steps made of stone were found in Snorri's tunnel in the summer of 1999.     Excavations startet last summer on the old church site in Reykholt and will continued next summer. Ruins from four churches have been discovered at this stage, and churches seem to have been located on the same spot througt the centuries, until 1886, when the timber church was built.   Archaelogical research, summer 2003 The main emphasis was laid on the excavation of the church-ruin all of which was laid open. The church seems to have stood in the same spot until it was moved in 1886. Three or four construction stages have already been detected. Written sources, dating back as far as the middle of the 17th century, describe a wooden floor in the choir end of the church. This area was found to be covered with cobbles. The length of the church is also given, divided into ten units. These are marked by flat foundation stones equally spaced along the inside of the side walls. Within the stone- and turf-walls there was wooden panelling and both gables were of wood during the last phase.   Among the objects found are fragments of chandeliers and wall-lights, book-clasps, pearls and fragments of a porcelain-pipe, with a picture of Kristján IX, King of Denmark. Several graves were found in the church-ruin, some of which post-date 1886. Among them is the grave of Rev. Þorleifur Bjarnason, buried within the church in the 18th century, according to an ancient custom. Þorleifur is said to have been rather ancient in manner and propably wished to follow the old tradition.     Researching the ecosystem of the past   This summer palaeoecologists from England and Iceland took soil samples in the vicinity of Reykholt in order to look into the ecosystem from the time before the settlement until the Middel Ages. Reykholt forms part of a large research project covering the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland. Plant- and insect-remains from different periods can reveal much about changes in vegetation and weather, and how people managed the land. So far as Reykholt is concerned, the results of the analysis may e.g. throw light on the prosperity of Reykholt during the time of  Snorri Sturluson.       Further information:   National Museum of Iceland, Rapports