Viking Housing
Despite their ferocious reputation Vikings were typically from farming or fishing stock. Many of their houses, therefore, were set up as small farms. Typical Viking houses would initially have been made from wood, wattle, stone or turf. Most would have thatched roofs or ones made from turf. The Vikings are well known for their wooden houses and - if there was enough wood in the immediate area - this would be their preferred building material.
Some Viking houses were built in a similar shape to boats in that they were wider in the middle than at the ends. Generally Viking houses would only have one room - these types of houses are often referred to as longhouses. Often this room had a fire located in the centre of the room which would be the focus of the house and all other activities would take place around the edges. The house would generally also come with a hole in the middle of the roof to let out smoke and to provide ventilation.
Many Vikings built benches around the inner walls of their houses which would be covered in skins or furs and which were used as seats and/or as beds. Although only built with one room many Viking houses would be home to a number of people and would also provide shelter for their animals who would have a special livestock area at one end of the house.
Wealthier Vikings such as village leaders and merchants, however, may well have built slightly larger houses that had more than one room. Later some Vikings would build up rather than restricting themselves to one floor designs and some houses have been found with sleeping platforms built above the main living area. Villages would also have had different buildings that the inhabitants could use. Most, for example, would have had a bath house and, after the adoption of Christianity, many Viking villages would also have a church.