 The Vatnahverfi district to the southeast of Einarsfjord had some of the best pastoral land in the colony, and boasted 10% of all the known farm sites in the Eastern Settlement.The economy of the medieval Norse settlements was based on livestock farming – mainly sheep and cattle, with significant supplement from seal hunting.A climate deterioration in the 14th century may have increased the demand for winter fodder and at the same time decreased productivity of hay meadows.