Barraclough describes the lava cave Surtshellir in Iceland, named after the fire giant Surtr, where new archaeological evidence has been found. Deep within the cave, a man-made wall and a stone outlin

Barraclough describes the lava cave Surtshellir in Iceland, named after the fire giant Surtr, where new archaeological evidence has been found. Deep within the cave, a man-made wall and a stone outline shaped like a boat were discovered. Inside the boat, offerings associated with fire and burning (ornaments, jasper, burnt bones) were left, suggesting efforts to placate the fire being dwelling further inside the lava field, possibly after the major volcanic eruption around 900 AD. After Iceland officially converted to Christianity around 1000 AD, a final offering—a metal cross—was left in the cave, marking the transition away from this pagan ritual.