Vatnsdaela Saga Map (draft)

The Vatnsdaela Saga Map is now ready for printing. It´s based on the Vatnsdaela saga (The Saga of the People of Vatnsdalur valley) that was written down around 1270 and is on of the Sagas of the Icelanders (Íslendingasögur). It tells of the first settler in the Vatnsdalur, valley according to the Book of Settlement, Ingimundur the old, and his family - from the end of the 9th century until the beginning of the 11th century.

The Vatnsdalur valley is about 2 1/2 hour drive from the capital of Reykjavik and 2 hours drive from Akureyri, the biggest town of Northern Iceland. The map is part of a bigger project that aims to make the history and building remains of valley better known to tourist guides, visitors, local people and other interested in the history of the area. Signes have been put uf at several historic sites in the valley.

Meeting with members of the Harstad Guides

The 4th Heritage Partner Meeting was held in Harstad in Norway and partly in Lofoten 4-9th of June 2009. All partners, and the illustrator Íngólfur Björgvinsson,  took part in the meeting and worked on the progress of the six Cultural Heritage Maps that will be the main output of the project.  The HM manual was also worked on by Agnes (Hungary) and James (Hebrides). Useful meeting was held with four professional Guides of the Harstad region. They were positive to using the new Saga Map of Hålogaland (N-Norway) and also suggested a Heritage Map of a smaller area, including Hinnöya, Vesterålen and Lofoten. A school visit was also on the program. The teachers and pupils (12 years old) showed an interest in the maps and will receive Håloganland Saga Map for the whole class, when ready,  and maps from other areas as well. Several interesting historical sites and museums in Harstad were visited and in Lofoten as well. See the agenda: The meeting agenda

Heritage Maps introduction brochure was distributed to the partners at the 4th partner meetin in Norway in June 2009. It inludes general information about the project. As well information about all the six maps that will be produced in the project period. It will be distiduted to institutions, schools, interested groups, individuals and press people in all the project areas/countries. Info brochure: part1  Info brochure: part2

Fom the valley of Vatnsdalur in NW-Iceland

The whisky galore in Eriskey, Outer Hebrides, 1949. Illustration: Ingólfur Björgvinsson.

Ingólfur Björgvinsson, illustrator of the six heritage maps that will be published in the project have now finished the first illustrations for five of the maps. Totally 20-30 illustrations will be made for each map (the front). Most of the time until now have been used to choose the themes of the maps and also to decide what places, tales, historical happenings etc the illustrations should cover. All the illustrations will be explained by a short text. On the back of most of the maps will be further text introducing better the history, legends, folktales e.g. of the areas and 25-30 good photos. The maps will be A1 in size and then folded in a pocket size. The aim is then to use them as a tool in vocational training for front line staff in tourism, like tour guides, staff at museums, visitor cetres and for teachers and students in vocational schools as well.

Getting ideas for the Outer-Hebrides Heritage Map.

A successful lessons were held at the local scool in Benbecula with 12 year old students. First all the partners in the project introduced their areas: Norway, Iceland, Orkney and Hungary and the students were quite interested and asked lot of good questions. Then the HM project was introduced and especially the planned map for the Outer-Hebrides. The the students split into groups and was asked to come up with som interesting examples for inclusion in their own heritage map of the area, a simpler one they ar going to work out in the next months. They had many good ideas thart they thought was typical for the area; as red hair, tweed and bagpipes.

The HM partners by a typical old house in N-Uist.

The third Heritage Maps partner meeting took place in North-Uist in Hebrides September 9th-14th 2008.  All partners attended and as well associated members from rhe Vatnsdaela Saga project in NW-Iceland and from Skálholt in South-Iceland. Ingolfur Björgvinsson illustrator of all the maps  and Frank Bradford photograper from Orkkey attended as well, but most of the partners will use photograps from him om the back of their Heritage Maps. Meeting were held in three out of the four days, and shorter excursions were offered by the host.  A day trip to the islands of Lewis and Harris were oganized as well on September 13th. For further information about the area: www.visit-uist.co.uk

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Old cole mine worker was a guide at the museum.

The second Hertage Maps (HM) partner meeting found place in Salgótarján, Nógrád County in Northern-Hungary 14th-18th of April 2008 . All the partners attended and as well Ingólfur Björgvinsson illustrator and Frank Bradford photographer. The meetings were held in the FÁY Vocational School. The participants also had a good meeting with the vice president of Nógrád County and vistited BLSZSZK vocational school. The HM group also visited many legendary and historical sites in the Nógrád area, like the UNESCO village and castle of Hollókö, the Salgótarján Mining Museum and also the beautiful and historical Village of Eger and the Beautiful Lady Village.

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From the UNESCO village of Hollókö.

The fourth visit of the project manager (Rögnvaldur) and the Heritage Maps illustrator (Ingólfur) was with the Hungarian partner in Salgótarján in Hungary in april 3rd-5th 2008.  Good meetings were held with Ms. Józsefné Bocsok (Agnes), which is repsonsible fro the project in Hungary,  and some legendary sites were visited. Agnes will also be responsible for Work Package IV in the project, Vocational Training Program - Use of Maps. It will be a training program (curriculum) about how to use Cultural Heritage Maps in vocational training and education for front line staff in tourism. The aim is that it will also be useful for those working with sustainable use of the cultural landscape and nature.

Supporting sources about the Vikings in Hålogaland

The third visit of the project manager (Rögnvaldur) in the Heritage Maps illustrator (Ingólfur) was arranged in Harstad in Northern-Norway from March 31st to April 2nd 2008. The meetings was held at Trondarnes Museum.  Mr. Ole J. Furset, direktor of the museum is  responsibe for the Norwegian map in cooperation with other staff  members at the museum and local specialists. The theme of their map will be the Viking time in Hålogaland, which is the old Nordic name for Northern-Norway.  Suggestions for illustrations were made as well as suggestions for issues to introdice on the back of the map. Further information about Trondarnes Museum on  www.tdm.no

Meeting with the scoolmaster in Benbecula.

After visiting the Orkney College Rögnvaldur (project manager) and Ingólfur (illustrator) visited HM partner in Outer-Hebrides, Taste of the Best.  Frank Bradford, photographer in Orkney,  arranged the trip from Orkney to Hebrides by ferry from Orkney to Scrabster, at tha northernmost point of Scotland. Then we drow across the highland of Scotland, passing Inverness and along the Loch Ness lake to Isle of Sky. From there with a ferry from Wick to Lochmaddy in North-Uist. Total travel of 18 hours.  In North-Uist Mr. James McLetchie arraged meetings and guided us around. The theme of the map was discussed and as well the need analyses James has been working on for the whole HM project. The Heritage Map of the area will introduce many of the most historical sites of Nort-Uist, South-Uist, Barra islands and some smaller islands in the  Outer-Hebrides in Scotland. Also information about historical events, folklore and legends in the area.