The oldest known evidence of human habitation in Reykjavik was found in 2001 on the southern end of the Aoalstraeti by workers excavating an underground parking garage. They discovered a wall fragment, which was dated to 871, plus or minus 2 years, hence the name of the museum. The remains of a Viking longhouse was found soon thereafter. They have been preserved in their original location and are now surrounded by high-tech panoramic displays that tackle the larger questions of why the Vikings came to Reykjavic, how they adapted to its conditions, and the the landscape originally looked like. The ruin itself is basically just a wall foundation, and the museum's greatest feat is to bring the longhouse back to life using digital projectors.