Thing Sites: á Ryggi Traditional Geocache
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This cache is part of the official Thing Sites GeoTour. A traditional lock'n'lock box capable of holding a logbook, pencil and small swappable items.
There are Thing Sites caches in and around the locations of Norse and Viking assembly sites in Norway, Iceland, The Faroe Islands, Orkney, Shetland, Highland Scotland, and the Isle of Man. Follow in the footsteps of the Vikings, and explore some of these fascinating sites.
On Vágar the ancient thingsite was in Kvígandalur, indicated by the place name Dómsteinar. Later the thing moved to the settlement á Ryggi in the village Miðvágur. The old farmhouse has gone, on the site there is now a stonewalled silo. There are two old houses in the village, Kálvalíð - a small museum, and Beitishúsið, the home of Mikkjal á Ryggi, a local poet. A statue of Mikkjal á Ryggi is by the house opposite the church.
General information on the Thingsites
Thing sites, from the Old Norse Þing, are the early assemblies found throughout Northern Europe as a result of our shared Norse heritage.
When the Vikings and early Norse settlers arrived in a new place they brought with them their customs and legal systems. Political decisions were made at the thing, laws upheld and disputes settled. Proceedings were overseen by the local ruler and the law-speaker (judge), whose job was to memorise and recite the law. At some things, known as Althings, any free man was entitled to vote. At others - Lawthings - the crown and local communities acted together to interpret the law.
The thing was also a focus for religious activity, as well as trade and exchange. At Thingvellir in Iceland you can still see the remains of the booths, or huts, where traders came to do business with people attending the meeting.
The thing system for sharing and legislating power can still be recognised today. Several things continue to be active. The Icelandic parliament is still known as the Althing, the Norwegian parliament is called the Storting and the Faroese parliament goes by the name of Løgting. The Manx parliament, known as Tynwald, still holds a midsummer court on the thing mound at Tynwald Hill every year.
The main road on Vágar from the airport to the subsea tunnel goes through the village of Miðvágur. The church is on your right hand and after the church there is a petrol station. There are plenty of parking near the main road, and á Ryggi is on your left hand, just opposite the petrol station. You can’t miss the silo on a grassy spot between the road and the houses.
There are parking areas on both sides of the main road.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre tenff pbirerq pbapergr