Viking Houses Facts Everything You Need To Know About Their Homes

Viking households were known as longhouses or tuft houses.The Vikings are known for their raids in various countries like Ireland and other European countries. They traded and settled in various parts of these countries.Vikings originated from Scandinavia which is modern-day Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. The Viking Age had a great effect on the history of various countries. The Norse sagas also tell us about the small villages formed by Vikings in the countries they visited.Viking families mostly lived like nomads and kept moving from one place to another. This was because they raided and traded in different areas. They often went on sea voyages for business but sometimes they also settled in small towns and farms. They built their longhouses in these Viking farms. These houses were long and were inhabited by 30-50 people. Huge families comprising of various generations lived together.A Viking longhouse was made up of wooden planks and stones. The Vikings living in the longhouses were usually farmers. A Viking house had a fire pit in the middle which was used for cooking. The longhouse had only one long room, a single roof, and an exterior door to the main building. They also had a separate room for farm animals. These longhouses were also known as turf houses.As these houses were made of wood, the walls and roof were filled with animal dung, mud, sand, or clay to extend the life of the house. After reading about the houses where Viking families used to live, also check Viking battles facts and Viking village facts.Life In A Viking LonghouseViking families were more like nomads. They barely settled down in one place but when they did, they built houses in towns or farms which were known as longhouses.A longhouse had enough space for 30 to 50 people. Big families with various generations lived in a single longhouse. The longhouse was also known as the turf house.The Vikings mostly lived in rural places or small towns. Viking homes were constructed using wood, stone, clay, earth, turf, and mud. The houses did not have any windows or a chimney so all the smoke often escaped from the roof. The roof had small holes in it. All the walls were lined with chairs and beds. The size of the longhouse varied. They were about 16.4-23 ft (5-7 m) wide and 49.2-246.1 ft (15-75 m) long. The Vikings lived together with their extended families. They slept early and woke up early. Most of them worked as farmers. All the members of the Viking community were very active.The youngsters worked on farms and managed the cattle. The elderly helped in whatever they could. The children also helped in household chores. The family worked together. There wasn’t any privacy in the longhouse. The Vikings usually ate stew and porridge on most days. Some days they also ate bread, cheese, honey, and meat.Viking Household ItemsViking homes had various household items. Examples of most of these items have been found in the Viking longhouses that are still standing today. The family living in these buildings had various items which they used on daily basis. Some of the household items have been mentioned below.The beds and benches were built near the walls of the longhouse. They were used for sitting and sleeping. The Vikings used animal skin and straws as the lining of these beds and benches. The pillows were usually stuffed with feathers from birds.The fire was lit in the corridor of the longhouse. It was usually built at a place that had small holes in walls and roofs.The ashes from the burned fireplace were spread out on the floor of the longhouse. It absorbed all the moisture and odor. As there weren’t any windows, the fire acted as a source of light inside the home. The Vikings also used lamps that were burned using fish, seal, or whale oil.Storage boxes in these buildings were made from wood. They decorated their walls with wall hangings, paintings, artisanal crafts, and by carving designs on them.Furniture And Home ComfortsEvery house has a few pieces of furniture as well as other things which enhance the comfort of the home. The Viking longhouse too had furniture and other home comforts. A few of them are mentioned below.There were corridors and central passageways in the longhouses. Here, the Vikings lit the fire which was used for cooking and to keep the house warm. They were usually located in the middle of the building.The Vikings who lived in cold areas always kept the fire burning and would sit by the fire to keep warm. They used normal oil lamps for light. They usually used fish, seal, or whale oil. The Vikings spread the ashes from the fire on the ground which absorbed all the moisture.There were separate rooms for animals instead of sheds.They built benches and beds near the walls and stored their stuff below them. They made their furniture from wood and stones. They were used for sitting and sleeping.They also had dining tables usually made of wood or stone.Most people used animal skin and duck feathers to make mattresses and pillows, respectively. Some wealthy Viking families used silk and cotton for their pillows and beds.They also decorated their homes using rugs and tapestries.In colder regions, the houses were usually made up of stone or tufts.Visit A Viking LonghouseIn case you are a history enthusiast, you may be interested in visiting a Viking longhouse. They are filled with history and lots of interesting components which will help you learn more about the Vikings. The Vikings were known to be great builders and their architecture is the same.They may have lived like nomads but their homes were comfortable and cozy. The Viking longhouses were mainly made of wood and soil. These components may have rotted away with time so the tuft houses often needed to be reconstructed. There are various places that have Viking longhouses.There are also various Viking reconstructions in different places. The Lofotr Viking Museum situated in Lofoten is 262.5 ft (80 m) long. It is considered a chieftain’s longhouse. The Avaldsnes Viking Village located in Norway has been reconstructed many times. When you visit this longhouse, there are actors who play the role of the Viking family.There are various Viking longhouses situated in Denmark, some of which are situated in Trelleborg and Hobro. There are also some longhouses and tuft houses in Iceland and Greenland.Eric the Red was the father of Leif Erikson who was one of the Europeans who discovered the United States. His home or longhouse has been converted into a museum and is located in Eiriksstair.One Viking house is also located in Stavanger. There is a Viking village in Gudvangen and it was once home to about 400 Vikings.Many Viking houses are still present in Norway and some of them are open to visitors.The Viking Household ExteriorThe Vikings were great architects and builders. The ships they built for their voyages to other countries are considered incredible. Their longhouses also looked like a ship but upside down and placed on land. Families lived together but sometimes the home was not large enough and became congested.Here are a few details about the exterior of a Viking household:A Viking longhouse or tuft house was made up of wood, stone, earth tuft, and mud. Sometimes, they also used clay to line the walls of the house.The roofs had holes in them for light and for the ventilation of air and smoke.In the rainy season, the wood frame would rot away so the house needed reconstruction quite often.In places where wood was not easily available like Scandinavia, the Vikings used tufts to build their homes.They built posts inside as well as outside the house. These posts supported the roof of the house.The roof and walls also had big and small holes in them. They were for ventilation and light. The holes were made so that the smoke from the fire did not choke the people living in the house.The longhouse of the Vikings did not have any windows or a chimney. The archaeologists have rarely found a chimney in any Viking homes.In cold regions, the Vikings reconstructed their homes for the winters. Sometimes they also put wool from their animals in between two walls to protect them from cold winds.The doors were like small openings. They were covered using animal membranes.Reconstructing The Longhouse TodayThe Viking longhouses were mainly made up of wood. In a damp environment, the wood could easily rot and deteriorate. Over the years, many Viking longhouses or tuft houses have been discovered by archaeologists. Most of them have been reconstructed and made into museums. These places are rich with Viking history and tell us about their lifestyle and culture.Since the wood used to make a Viking longhouse was not preserved, the archaeologists found the remains of the longhouse with just a dark stain remaining where the wood would have been. Researchers have reconstructed tuft houses in the places where they were supposed to be. The holes present in place of wooden planks help the researchers to rebuild the homes. The literature found from the Viking Age has also been very helpful. No two longhouses that have been found are exactly the same.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Viking houses facts then why not take a look at Viking religion facts, or Viking runes facts?

Viking households were known as longhouses or tuft houses.