Mystery Stone Animal Figurine in Iceland

In a significant archaeological find, a team in Iceland has unearthed a stone figurine believed to be a Viking Age toy, dating between A.D. 940 and 1000. The discovery was made at the Fjörður excavation site in Seyðisfjörður, where experts are debating the animal's identity, with many suggesting it resembles a pig. Ragnheiður Traustadóttir, director of the Antikva archaeological team, noted that this find is particularly remarkable given the limited visibility of children in Viking Age records. The excavation site has yielded a wealth of historical artifacts, including a farm mound, mill, and sheep shed from the 18th to 20th centuries, as well as medieval remains and Viking graves buried under an 11th-century landslide. In 2022, the team discovered a Viking longhouse complete with a weaving room and animal enclosures, further enriching the site's historical context. Traustadóttir emphasized the uniqueness of the site, stating, "There's no other site in Iceland that has so many finds." Over five years of research, the team has cataloged around 4,000 artifacts, including nearly 100 game pieces from the Viking board game "hnefatafl," all made from the same stone as the newly found toy. While the exact purpose and creator of the figurine remain unknown, Traustadóttir speculated that it may have been crafted during long winter nights, possibly as a gift for a child.