The first permanent settlement in Iceland by Norsemen is believed to have been established at Reykjavík (Old Norse: ) by Ingólfr Arnarson around AD 870; this is described in ''Landnámabók'', or the Book of Settlement. Ingólfur is said to have decided the location of his settlement using a traditional Norse method: he cast his high seat pillars (Öndvegissúlur) into the ocean when he saw the coastline, then settled where the pillars came to shore. This story is widely regarded as a legend; it appears likely that he settled near the hot springs to keep warm in the winter and would not have decided the location by happenstance. Furthermore, it seems unlikely that the pillars drifted to that location from where they were said to have been thrown from the boat. Nevertheless, that is what the ''Landnamabok'' says, and it says furthermore that Ingólfur's pillars are still to be found in a house in the town.