Place names in and around Gjellestad

Abstract

The article examines place-names around the Gjellestad boat burial site in Norway, analyzing eleven settlements including Gjellestad, Huseby, Vik, and others. Through linguistic analysis, tax records, and digital elevation models, the study reconstructs the ancient landscape and settlement patterns in the area. The research reveals that when the Gjellestad ship burial was established, the site was near the sea, similar to other Viking ship burials. The area experienced significant post-glacial land rise, with sea levels 10 meters higher around 600 AD. Vik appears to be the earliest settlement, with other farms like Gjellestad and Huseby likely emerging as subdivisions during the Viking Age. The settlements show exceptionally high percentages of arable land compared to the national average, indicating the area’s agricultural attractiveness. Taxation records from 1838 suggest these were wealthy and central settlements, with valuations 3-6 times higher than normal cadastral units.