We will be working at the archaeological site Skriouklaustur (e. The monastery at Skrioa), the project started in 2002 and its aim is to investigate, through an archaeological excavation, the monastery that operated on the farmstead Skrioa in Fljotsdalur Valley, East Iceland, during the period from 1493 to the Reformation in 1550. Our tasks in this project will mainly be connected with taking care of the land around the monastery and include renovation and restoration of its ruins. We will be beautifying the area, constructing stone walls and laying sod. Other tasks might include making and fixing walking paths, gardening works nearby the monastery and the place where we will be accommodated.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.
Accomodation & food:
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 cafe in Skriouklaustur 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 & leisure:
We will work in Skriouklaustur at Fljotsdalur, located 40 km from the biggest town in the East of Iceland, Egilsstaoir (pop. 2,300) and about 650 km from Reykjavik. It is part of Fljotsdalsherao, (pop. of 3.700) at 8.884 km is the largest Icelandic municipality. The monastery at Skrioa, named Skriouklaustur, 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 Skriouklaustur having been the only monastery in East Iceland. Nowadays, Skriouklaustur 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 Skriouklaustur 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 Fljotsdalur.
Requirements:
SPECIAL REMARKS / EXTRAS: Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros).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.LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.
We will be working at the archaeological site Skriouklaustur (e. The monastery at Skrioa), the project started in 2002 and its aim is to investigate, through an archaeological excavation, the monastery that operated on the farmstead Skrioa in Fljotsdalur Valley, East Iceland, during the period from 1493 to the Reformation in 1550. Our tasks in this project will mainly be connected with taking care of the land around the monastery and include renovation and restoration of its ruins. We will be beautifying the area, constructing stone walls and laying sod. Other tasks might include making and fixing walking paths, gardening works nearby the monastery and the place where we will be accommodated.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.
Accomodation & food:
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 cafe in Skriouklaustur 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 & leisure:
We will work in Skriouklaustur at Fljotsdalur, located 40 km from the biggest town in the East of Iceland, Egilsstaoir (pop. 2,300) and about 650 km from Reykjavik. It is part of Fljotsdalsherao, (pop. of 3.700) at 8.884 km is the largest Icelandic municipality. The monastery at Skrioa, named Skriouklaustur, 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 Skriouklaustur having been the only monastery in East Iceland. Nowadays, Skriouklaustur 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 Skriouklaustur 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 Fljotsdalur.
Requirements:
SPECIAL REMARKS / EXTRAS: Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros).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.LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.
« The outside world did not interfere, because it seemed so distant, and so we spent our spare time getting to know each other and learning about each other countries', languages and cultures. Everyone was completely relaxed. This simply would not have been possible on any other type of holiday. VAP enabled me to have a truly memorable experience. »
