Halls, houses and Huts

Halls, houses and huts

"Halls, Houses and Huts" presents the second experimental research report developed in collaboration between Ribe Viking Centre and the University of Southern Denmark. The report documents the construction, use and maintenance of the reconstructed Viking Age buildings at the Center and gathers knowledge that has accumulated through many years of practical work but has rarely been described in writing.

At Ribe Viking Centre, houses are built and maintained in full scale using historically informed methods and materials. This offers a unique opportunity to observe how such buildings behave over time, something archaeologists rarely experience when working only with the traces of post holes in the ground. By examining the standing buildings and the long term experiences of those who build and maintain them, the report sheds light on practical aspects of Viking Age architecture that are difficult to capture through excavation alone.

The report is based on close cooperation between archaeologists, students and the skilled carpenters responsible for constructing and maintaining the buildings at the Center. Drawing on decades of practical experience combined with archaeological perspectives, it documents an ongoing experiment in reconstructing and living with Viking Age houses.

Although the study is rooted in archaeological research, it is intended not only for specialists. It also serves as a guide for readers who are interested in how these houses are built and how they function in practice, details that are often easy to overlook during a visit to the Center.

The report is published in English and can be downloaded here: