What kind of houses did Vikings live in?
The Viking Age. Vikings lived in a long, narrow building called a longhouse. Most had timber frames, with walls of wattle and daub and thatched roofs. Where wood was scarce, as in Iceland, longhouses were made of turf and sod.
What are some interesting facts about Viking longhouses?
Here are some interesting facts about Viking longhouses. The Vikings built longhouses all over Scandinavia. The typical Viking longhouse was 6 metres wide and up to 75 metres long, with a wooden frame, and walls of wooden planks or clay. The Viking longhouse was usually divided into several different rooms.
What was life like in the Vikings?
Most Vikings, however, lived a rural life in tiny villages of half a dozen large farms. The centrepiece of the farm was the Longhouse, or Turf House. Longhouses would vary in size based on the importance of the owner.
What was the main building on a Viking farm?
The Viking longhouse On a farm like this the main building was typically the longhouse, here, the family sat and enjoyed their meals, rested, and slept. Next, to the longhouse, there could be other buildings such as barns, stables, or workshops. The Viking longhouse was big enough so whole families could live together in them.
How many people lived in Viking longhouses?
How long was a Viking longhouse?
What were the functions of Viking longhouses?
How were doors handled in Viking longhouses?
What was the Vikings' room called?
What are Viking longhouse doors?
Why were Viking feasts held?
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How many rooms are in a Viking longhouse?
Interior: On the inside, the Longhouse was just one long room. But Viking families found a way of dividing up the space for better use using rows of wooden posts.
Who lived in a Viking longhouse?
Viking familiesViking families lived in the central hall portion of the viking longhouse. Rooms were partially set off; one end of the viking longhouse might be used as a barn to keep cattle and horses in the winter as well as storage for crops and tools.
How big was a Viking long house?
between 15m and 22m longSize. Typically, Viking longhouses were between 15m and 22m long and 5m wide. However, the largest excavated Viking house, belonging to a chieftain, was in Lofotr, Norway, and had walls 67m long and 10m wide.
How long did it take for Vikings to build a longhouse?
It depends on what resources and materials were available. A possible estimate is one to two years (the reconstruction took one year to build), but we must also consider that the house seems to have been continually added to and maintained.
How many meals did Vikings eat a day?
two mealsUnlike modern Norwegians, Vikings tended to only eat two meals per day. These were known as dagmal and nattmal, which meant a day meal and night meal.
Are there any Viking longhouses left?
The 272-foot-long house was the seat of one of the chieftains, and it is the only such building found as of now.
Who was the tallest Viking ever?
Clifford Thompson, the world's tallest man and Count Olaf, the Norwegian Viking Giant claimed to be 8 foot, 7 inches tall. He performed with several circuses and sideshows but also secured a law degree in 1944 from Marquette.
How tall was the average Vikings?
"The examination of skeletons from different localities in Scandinavia reveals that the average height of the Vikings was a little less than that of today: men were about 5 ft 7-3/4 in. tall and women 5 ft 2-1/2 in.
Who was the tallest Viking to ever live?
Who was the tallest Viking? The average height of Viking men was 5 ft 9 in (176 cm), and the height of Viking women was 5 ft 1 in (158 cm). Thorkell the Tall, a renowned chieftain and warrior, was the tallest Scandinavian Viking.
How many people live in a longhouse?
Several families, numbering about six to eight members each, likely resided in the same home. Prior to 1300, longhouses housed about 20 to 30 people. Later, they housed as many as 100 people, as their size doubled.
Why did Vikings sleep sitting up?
Viking Household Items However, some historians believe that the Vikings actually slept sitting up with their backs against the wall given the limited and confined space that was available on the benches.
How many rooms are in a longhouse?
From front to back, such a house, called an "uma", regularly consists of an open platform serving as the main entrance place, followed by a covered gallery. The inside is divided into two rooms, one behind the other.
What tribes lived in long houses?
Tribes or ethnic groups in northeast North America, south and east of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, which had traditions of building longhouses include the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee): Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and Mohawk.
What was inside a Viking longhouse?
One end of the Viking longhouse was used to house cattle and other animals as well as stored crops and other tools. The opposite end of the longhouse was often set up for the Vikings to create artisanal crafts. The center of the longhouse hall was reserved for living, sleeping, cooking, and eating.
Who lived in medieval longhouses?
Vikings lived in a long, narrow building called a longhouse. Most had timber frames, with walls of wattle and daub and thatched roofs. Rooms were partially set off; one end of the longhouse might be used as a barn to keep cattle and horses in the winter as well as storage for crops and tools.
What house did Ragnar Lothbrok belong to?
The House of Munsö, also known as the Lothbrok Dynasty, is the ruling house of the Kingdom of Kattegat. The family was headed by Ragnar Lothbrok until his death, and then by his sons. Their symbol is the raven, a reference to their claimed ancestor, the god Odin.
Viking Homes and Houses: Facts About Viking Longhouses
Here are some interesting facts about Viking longhouses. The Vikings built longhouses all over Scandinavia. The typical Viking longhouse was 6 metres wide and up to 75 metres long, with a wooden frame, and walls of wooden planks or clay. The Viking longhouse was usually divided into several different rooms. Several families lived in the […]
The Viking Longhouse
The longest known longhouse was found near Lofoten, Norway and it had a length of no less than 83 meters. One of the homes found in Hedeby had an oven for cooking food. However, this was most certainly not the norm during the Viking Age, and the presence of a separate kitchen is actually quite odd.
What was the Viking longhouse like?
Viking longhouses would seem noisy, dirty and smelly to us, especially if animals sheltered in one end. However, to the Vikings, they were no doubt crowded, but also warm, cozy and comfortable.
What was the floor of the Viking Longhouse used for?
Rooms were partially set off; one end of the longhouse might be used as a barn to keep cattle and horses in the winter as well as storage for crops and tools.
What were long houses made of?
Most had timber frames, with walls of wattle and daub and thatched roofs. Where wood was scarce, as in Iceland, longhouses were made of turf and sod. Two rows of high posts supported the roof and ran down the entire length of the building, which could be up to 250 feet long.
What was the Viking family?
A Viking family—often an extended family —all lived in the Viking longhouse, where they ate, worked, talked and slept with little or no privacy. Everyone knew everyone else’s business, which probably led both to closeness and rancor.
Why did Viking women push their menfolk out the door?
Viking women pushed their menfolk out the door to hunt or fish, while they themselves went out to harvest fresh spring greens and herbs. Longhouses on a Viking farm were larger than houses in a Viking town. In the few towns, Viking homes were more rectangular than long.
Where was the Viking longhouse built?
A reconstructed Viking longhouse in Lofoten, Norway. There were rarely any windows so light would get in through vents built to let out smoke, or through the gaps in the thatching.
Where did the story of Longhouses come from?
A lot of what we know about longhouses comes from the Icelandic sagas and eddas. These were written down after the fact as, for most early Norwegian history, events were passed down as stories rather than written down.
Why did Grettir's wife light up the house?
When Grettir was out fighting off some other Vikings, his wife lit a light that was visible so that he could find his way back home. We also find that on one occasion, the house was so dim that when Auðun entered, he could see and Grettir could surprise him by tripping him.
How long is a long house?
Longhouses would vary in size based on the importance of the owner. They were around 5-7 metres (15-25 feet) wide in the middle and from 15-75 metres (50-250 feet) long. No matter the size, the basic construction was the same. Two rows of wooden columns ran the length of the house supporting the high points of the roof.
Why were candles not used in longhouses?
Candles were not unheard of but would have been uncommon in longhouses due to their expense. At the time, most mentions in the sagas were of priests who used them in their services. Affluent households may have opted for candles but, as it was much cheaper, they’d likely just use oil.
What would the Vikings do if the sun went down?
Once the sun went down, the Vikings would normally eat , and tell tales around the fire so the need for light in the evenings was quite low. Read more: The Vikings in Norway. Fires would also provide some light and, in the cold Northern climate, these would likely be lit for most of the time throughout the year.
Where is the Viking village?
Avaldsnes Viking Village, western Norway. Elsewhere in Norway, the Avaldsnes Viking Village has several reconstructions. Actors play out the roles of a family while you are guided around the farm. Denmark also has a number of reconstructed Viking longhouse structures.
Where are the Viking longhouses?
One of the largest Viking longhouses was excavated on the Lofoten Islands in Norway. Today, the site is a museum, offering visitors the chance to sample Viking daily life.
What are some interesting facts about Viking homes?
Viking Homes and Houses: Facts About Viking Longhouses. Here are some interesting facts about Viking longhouses. The Vikings built longhouses all over Scandinavia. The typical Viking longhouse was 6 metres wide and up to 75 metres long, with a wooden frame, and walls of wooden planks or clay. The Viking longhouse was usually divided ...
What oil was used in Viking longhouses?
Stone lamps using fish liver oil or whale oil were sometimes used in longhouses, providing a strong enough light to work by. The length of the Viking longhouse often depended on how rich the owner was. Wealthy people also decorated their houses with rugs, tapestries and sometimes shields.
What did the wealthy people decorate their houses with?
Wealthy people also decorated their houses with rugs, tapestries and sometimes shields. In very cold areas, Viking longhouses were built with stone and turf for extra warmth. They even stuffed straw, wool and moss in between two walls as a form of insulation.
What was life like in a Viking's longhouse?
Life inside a Vikings Longhouse would have been a noisy, dirty experience. First of all many Viking families would be living together in the same house. Viking homes were long rectangular buildings. Often one end of the longhouse was used as a barn. The barn end of a longhouse would have crops stored, and it would usually be divided into stalls ...
Why did the Vikings live under the same roof?
By living under the same roof as their animals the Vikings were able to secure a constant source of heat (a rather noisy one). It also ensured that the animals were kept safely away from cattle thieves. A cow was a valuable form of income. A fireplace would be somewhere in the middle of the floor.
How long were the houses in Hedeby?
The houses in Hedeby were rectangular, and they were about 12m long by 5m wide. Country homes throughout the Viking World range from 30-60m long by 5m wide. The longest known longhouse was found near Lofoten, Norway and it had a length of no less than 83 meters.
Where were Viking forges found?
Several forges have been found in some farms throughout Denmark , and the majority of the forges are not located in the main building. Viking homes within towns did not have the need for as much space for the storage of crops or for cattle, so they were shorter than country homes.
How many people could live in a Viking longhouse?
In fact, these longhouses had so much room that 30-50 people could live here, including their slaves (A slave is called ”Træl” in Danish) and animals. Viking longhouse at Trelleborg, Denmark Photo: by Schorle. A longhouse was on average 30 meters long and 8 meters wide in the middle.
Why are Viking longhouses curved?
The truss framework also gave the walls the curved shape that we all know, because some of the weight from the roof was pushed out on some of the posts that supported the roof. Inside a Viking longhouse. The longhouses were not easy to build, it was very time-consuming and demanded a lot of manpower.
What animals did the Vikings have?
The Vikings had many different kinds of animals such as sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle, but they also had pets such as cats to help kill the rodents such as mice. In the early Viking age, we start to see that the houses become bigger and wider than it was in the iron age, and the Viking longhouse is a good example of that.
Why was hospitality important in the Viking Age?
In the Viking age, hospitality was very important to the people because you never really knew who the wanderer who knocked on your door really was. The God Odin was known to travel around Midgard, but merchants and other travelers could also turn up at your doorstep.
How big is a longhouse?
A longhouse was on average 30 meters long and 8 meters wide in the middle . However, there has been found both smaller and bigger longhouses, and they were always a little bit different in appearance from location to location. Along the borders around the farm there where a fence to keep the animals from running away.
What was the main building on a farm?
On a farm like this the main building was typically the longhouse, here, the family sat and enjoyed their meals, rested, and slept. Next, to the longhouse, there could be other buildings such as barns, stables, or workshops.
Why did the Vikings travel?
And because the environment could be very different than it is in Scandinavia, they would often adapt their houses to the surrounding area.
How long is a Viking longhouse?
Like its name the typical Viking house was long and straight a rectangle shape with a pitched roof. The length of the longhouse could be up to 30 metres in length which is around 90 feet. The width of the Viking home would be typically up to 2 metres, or around 5 feet, hence the name longhouse.
How many rooms were there in the Viking home?
The home itself was typically one room only, but in some cases there would be separate areas for humans and animals, as it was quite common for the Viking to keep animals indoors sometimes. Sometimes the slaves would be kept in separate sections too, and n some of the wealthier homes, there were often more than one room.
What kind of roof did Vikings use?
The level of pitch the Vikings used would depend on the type of roofing they planned to use, wooden shingles could be applied to any level of pitch, but if thatched roofing was going to be used the pitched has to be steep to ensure the water runs off correctly. Onto the wooden frame the roof would be added, either wooden shingles or thatching.
What is the difference between a Viking home and a bungalow?
One difference was that longhouses could be build below ground level, perhaps to ensure that wind and cold would enter the home.
What was the primary building material used in Viking times?
There was an abundance of trees in Viking times, and wood would be the primary building material used when constructing a home. Oak was the favoured material for its strength and density. The longhouses roofs would be constructed from either wooden shingles or would be a thatched roof.
What would a Viking house have?
Some Viking homes would have bare wooden walls, this would require excellent and well fitted craftsmanship to keep the wind and elements out. Other settlements would use peat or mud to add a protective layer to the walls.
What was the Viking home called?
However there were popular designs that are considered to be the primary construction type in Viking times and this was the called the Viking longhouse.
How many people lived in Viking longhouses?
Viking longhouses were occupied, on average, by ten people linked by blood, work, marriage, or other intimate relationship.
How long was a Viking longhouse?
Longhouse lengths weren’t universal. They ranged from as little as nine meters in length to over 80. Viking longhouses were between five and seven meters wide .
What were the functions of Viking longhouses?
Viking longhouses were intimate human spaces – in them, life began and ended.
How were doors handled in Viking longhouses?
Doors were handled, well, without a handle. Instead, the principle of Viking longhouse doors was that they had wooden pegs in one of their bottom corners, allowing them to pivot open.
What was the Vikings' room called?
The byre was the room in which domestic animals, with and largely because of which the Vikings were able to survive the north, lived. It was likely separated from the hearth room with some sort of (perishable) divider. Domestic animals of the Viking Age included cattle, horses, pigs, chicken, sheep, and dogs.
What are Viking longhouse doors?
Viking longhouse doors are thought to have been adorned with elaborate wood carvings of a spiritual nature; most likely, various scenes from Norse mythology. A colored excerpt from a 13th-century Icelandic saga.
Why were Viking feasts held?
It was an opportunity to present one’s belongings and the richness and amount of food one could offer.
