When was Iceland settled during the Viking Age?

Iceland was settled by Norse people during the Viking Age, with the primary period of settlement occurring between approximately 870 and 930 CE.1

While historical accounts vary slightly, the Íslendingabók (The Book of the Icelanders) identifies this timeframe as the era of settlement. The Landnámabók (The Book of Settlements) specifically notes that the first permanent settler, Ingólfr Arnarson, arrived from Norway in 874 CE to establish a homestead in Reykjavík.12

Archaeological evidence, including tephra layers dated to about 870 CE, supports these documentary records, confirming that the island was populated by a mix of Norse and Celtic peoples—primarily Norwegian seafarers—during the late 9th and early 10th centuries.13