Ancient DNA may rewrite the story of Iceland's earliest settlers

Recent biochemical evidence indicates that Norse settlers arrived in Iceland nearly 70 years earlier than previously thought, around the 870s. This discovery not only challenges established timelines but also suggests that these early inhabitants may have preserved the island's forests, contradicting earlier beliefs about their impact on the environment. This finding is significant as it reshapes our understanding of Iceland's history and the relationship between early settlers and their surroundings.