Thing Sites: Árnafjørður Traditional Geocache
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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.
Since the early history of the thing-sites, the things were connected to religion. The ancient thing “í Køtlum” was up in the hills 700 m above the small village of Árnafjørður. Next to the church in Árnafjørður there is a river with waterfalls. Above the highest waterfall are the remnants of the thing-site. If you are fit, you should make the hike up by the river and find the stones marking the site. If not visit this small beautiful and peaceful church, it is always open. Or walk down to the beach, if you are a fisherman, bring your rod and try your luck, you might catch a trout or salmon.
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.
There is parking by the church.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ol gur fgbarjnyy ol gur Puhepu