Réttir in the landscape: A study on the interactions between humans and animals through sheep-fold monuments

This report outlines the research that was conducted over the course of one week in late June, 2008. A total of five réttir – sheep folds – were surveyed using a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). Each réttir displayed a variety of forms, and different uses of local materials, and these results will be used to analyse the typological characteristics of these monuments. Also, it is hoped in the next stage of this research to correlate the sheep numbers for each farm and its district with its contemporary réttir. In many ways the activities associated (gathering, sorting, community places, maintenance) with réttir bonded communities together – providing a year round community focus – and cemented the important reciprocal relationship between humans and animals. Therefore, the study of réttir are an important avenue of research for understanding how past societies worked as farming communities, and their interactions with environments. Whilst commenting on much of the specific research ideas that are touched on through this study, this report is a provisional one by summarising the fieldwork, but also points towards some future directions in the research.

Grímsstaðaheiði Iceland International Polar Year Mývatn Mývatnsheiði Mývatnssveit réttir Reykjahlíðar. sheep folds survey

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