The Chieftains house
In the long-house with its three naves, poles mounted in pairs bear the weight of the ceiling. Thus the outer walls are only there to provide insulation.
Archaeological studies formed the basis when the house was reconstructed. The ground plan, the room partitions, the location of poles and fire places, the wooden walls and outer walls made of grass turf could all be reconstructed in accordance with the excavated structures. The distribution of the objects that have been found also helped determine the purpose of each room.
Structures in the ground and the artefacts that have been found indicate that a chieftain lived here. The farm was evidently different from surrounding farms.
The altitude of the house is believed to have been 9 metres. Several alternative roof constructions have been suggested, mainly shingle and turf. The alternative shown is one of shingle, such as is found, for instance, on stave churches. The shingle makes the building visible from a great distance, as a monument, whereas a turf roof would have made it quite inconspicuous in the landscape. Nevertheless a shingled roof must be considered merely one of several alternatives.
In the area there are also vestiges of boat houses for long-boats, circular tunnel systems, barrows, and vestiges of other long-houses. Added together, these remains indicate that there was a concentration of power in the area during the Iron Age.
