The "Cave People" of Laugarvatnshellir

Have you ever visited the “Cave People” near Laugarvatn?

We've been there several times and I also reported on the last cavemen in Iceland in a special edition of the German magazine "Zauber des Nordens" ("Magic of the North").

It was only around 100 years ago that people still lived in this small cave near Lake Laugarvatn.

Laugarvatnshellir

The caves dug into the soft tuff of Reyðarbarmur Mountain on the road from Laugarvatn to Þingvellir were created by human hands . Initially, after the conquest of Iceland, the caves were probably used primarily by shepherds as a refuge for them and their sheep. This use was later abandoned after stories about ghosts were told here in the caves.

The Cave People

In the summer of 1910 , a young couple came who wanted to farm. Because there was no land or farm to buy in the area, they settled in the caves. The man, a trained carpenter, converted the larger cave into a " living cave " as a living and sleeping area with a kitchen. The smaller cave became a sheepfold. After almost a year, the couple was able to purchase a farm in the surrounding area and moved.

In 1918 , another young couple, Jón Þorvarðsson and Vigdís Helgadóttir , settled here; the caves then probably belonged to one of Jón's relatives. They also farmed here, kept sheep, a few horses and a cow and sold skyr, cream and homemade cakes to travelers on the way from Laugarvatn to þingvellir. Vigdís had also planted a garden and successfully grew potatoes in a comparatively sunny location on the southern slope. Jón hunted ptarmigan, which he sold in Reykjavík, and they collected berries to sell.

Their eldest daughter, Ragnheiður, was born here in the cave in April 1919 . Jón had to walk through the deep snow to Laugarvatn to get the midwife when there were complications and it took around 8 hours to cover the 13km route, but it turned out well and mother and child survived the birth. The second child Magnús was born in 1920 and the youngest daughter Hrafnhildur Ásta in 1922.

At the end of 1922, Jón and Vigdís were able to buy their own farm and moved with their children.

Photo from the visit to the Cave People in April 2019

Since 2017, the reconstructed cave of the “Cave People” can be visited again as part of a guided tour .

In the special issue of "Zauber des Nordens" I present a little about what life might have been like for little Magnús and his family around 100 years ago, and also what kind of dishes they probably ate.

There is a hollow pan hanging on the kitchen board in the living cave, which was used to bake eplaskífur (apple pancakes), for example... you can of course also find a suitable recipe for this in the special issue!

Last weeks we were in Laugarvatnshellir again to show the finished special issue. We were also able to take a few photos, including with the current guide through the caves. Thanks again to the Cave People for this!

We really enjoyed our visit again this time!

[Translated from here.]