The farm Stong in the Thjorsardalur Valley was devastated by the first documented Hekla eruption in 1104 along with many other farms in the valley. In 1939, a team of Nordic archaeologists started excavating a few of them and it was decided to preserve the Stong excavation for visitors.

The Viking Farm, built in 1974-77 in the valley, was based on the arrangement of the Stong farm. According to an ancient, runic inscription found in Scotland, Gaukur trandill is said to have lived at Stong and his concubine lived at the nearby farm Steinastadir. Stong is easily accessible from the main road through the valley. It is not advisable for small cars to for d the river near the excavation. Visitors should rather use the pedestrian bridge.

The beautiful Gjain gorge is nearby, and no one regrets walking a bit further to see this oasis in the barren landscape.