Medieval Icelanders were hunting blue whales long before industrial whaling technology, utilizing their massive size as a caloric windfall, according to recent research. A 17th-century tale details a man named Ólafur who encountered a blue whale while fishing, attempting to take it down with a spear marked with his emblem. Through DNA and spectroscopy analysis of ancient bones, researchers found that blue whales were a dominant food source for Icelanders between the 9th and 19th centuries. Northwestern Iceland emerges as a historical hotspot of blue whale activity, showcasing a unique relationship between humans and these majestic creatures. The project led by Vicki Szabo seeks to unravel the mysteries surrounding medieval Icelandic whale hunting practices.
https://hakaimagazine.com/features/how-viking-age-hunters-took-down-the-biggest-animal-on-earth/