The distribution of seabird wings recovered from Viking Age domestic midden deposits in Skagafjörður, North Iceland

Bird bones from domestic midden deposits on Hegranes, North Iceland, dating AD 870-1104, are mostly puffin (Fratercula arctica) and guillemot (Uria aalge)—diving seabirds in the Alcidae family. We find that wings significantly overrepresented compared to legs, particular, proximal wing systematically more common than if whole birds were deposited middens. Trends wing-leg index distal suggest while bird commonly recovered these middens generally make up about a quarter of faunal assemblages, there is evidence for specific species selection between guillemot. The disproportionate number Viking Age points some kind deposition strategy favors over other body parts. Birds seem be much archaeofaunal assemblages Hegranes those parts Iceland. All this suggests specialized butchery disposal practice derived cultural practices.