Den lille domkirke i Kirkjubøur

Abstract

The article deals with the interpretation of a minor archaeological examination of some traces in the walls in the parish church of Kirkjubøur, one of the three medieval churches in the village. The examination suggested that this church must have been the result of one single plan.

Emphasis is placed on its characteristic proportions — the church building being very long and narrow. Traces of pannels in the walls of the eastern half of the church suggest that the pannelled choir and the nave had exactly the same proportions, and it is concluded that the church has been dividcd at the middle, probably by a wooden panel, too. The author concludes that the parish church must originally have been designed as a bishop's church.

In an attempt to date this church more accurately, an evaluation is made of the very few datable remains which were found during excavations carried out between 1963 and 1969. There is also a consideration of the connection between this church and »Múrurin«, the biggest of the medieval churches at Kirkjubøur.

It is assumed that the parish church is the stone-church that bishop Erlendur (1269—1308) built and not the »Múrurin« which has hitherto been thought.