Making a Viking Long House for $4 (USD)

[matakishi]

  silly Carlos, you just lift the roof off if it gets too stuffy.



Of course there really should be an escape route for the smoke but for $4 you probably can't have everything.
Good work Dave, it's good to see you keeping up to your usual inspiring standard. Which PRG forum do you frequent?

[grubman]

http://ribevc.net.dynamicweb.dk/Default.aspx?ID=269

And other sites with a historical scope.....

  You know, I love my country (USA) but, when it comes to my areas of interest, and especially my hobby, I was really born on the wrong continent!

[grubman]

One question (and I'm no student of Nordic architecture) but where does the smoke go? Shouldn't there be a flu somewhere?

From what I read, some of the larger long houses had holes in the roof...but a lot of the others didn't, and the buildings were literally filled with smoke.

Of course, I’m assuming that was a question about real long houses?  As far as the model, there are a lot of historical inaccuracies.  For example, the walls of great houses were often bowed like ships (and some 4 feet thick!), there were huge support beams in the middle of the floor, ect. 

Needless to say, I tried my best to give the concept and feel of a Viking longhouse while making the model practical and simple.

[galvinm]

I would say you got a wonderful investment on your $4. Imagine, a Viking longhouse for the Lord, all for the Princely sum of $4.

Nice job.

[Argonor]

A longhouse typically have a roofed hole just above the hearth. Basically a square hole with a very narrow gap between the roof and the smoke-hole roof.

Additionally a large wet hide is stretched out above the hearth (about 2 meters above) to prevent cinders to fly up and ignite the thatched roof (a very real danger). From time to time, water was poured onto the hide to keep it from drying out.

[carlos marighela]

Of course, I’m assuming that was a question about real long houses? 

It was. Oh well, I suspect the smoked smell was better than their usual body odour.

[Operator5]

Additionally a large wet hide is stretched out above the hearth (about 2 meters above) to prevent cinders to fly up and ignite the thatched roof (a very real danger). From time to time, water was poured onto the hide to keep it from drying out.

I've never done a serious study of Viking culture, but this was new to me. Thanks for the info.

[Argonor]

I've never done a serious study of Viking culture, but this was new to me. Thanks for the info.

Also the smaller houses of the Germanic Iron Age had such a contraption - I would think it necessary for most pre-fireplace/chimney houses with a thatched roof, actually.

We have this place only 30 km from my home:

http://www.jernalderlandsbyen.dk/

It's an Iron Age village, but at the annual Iron Age market, a lot of Viking reenactors/traders are also present. There's only a tiny bit of info in English, but I can heartily recommend the place to anyone visiting Denmark (anyone with a sound interest in history/ancient cultures, that is  )

[abhorsen950]

That is a very nice building, any info about your roleplaying campaign you can share?

[grubman]

That is a very nice building, any info about your roleplaying campaign you can share?

You can read all about it here.  Background information, planning, terrain building, miniature painting (and reviews) and actual play reports...and a ton if pictures:  http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=528957