Thjodveldisbaerinn Farm - Viking Longhouse
Thjodveldisbaerinn Farm - Viking Longhouse
In the year 1104, a devastating eruption of Hekla covered much of the area in a deep layer of volcanic ash and many farms are believed to have disappeared, among them Stöng. After the farm was excavated from a thick layer of ash in 1939, it was decided to build a replica, completed in 1974, the year Icelanders celebrated 1100 years since the settlement.
Þjóðveldisbærinn is similar to Viking longhouses found in Norway and the northern British Isles and its faithful reconstruction give an insight into the lives of Iceland’s farmers at the time. The main living area was a long high-roofed hall, which later became impractical to heat when deforestation had reduced fuel supplies.
Family members slept and were seated on a platform either side of the central aisle and fireplace, which were flanked by a row of wooden pillars, supporting the roof. The only light was provided by the smoke holes and from the doorway.
What is curious about the farm at Stöng is the presence of a large side chamber with running water channels, presumed to serve as a communal latrine with room for a dozen people at once. One theory is that the master of the house gathered his workers there in the mornings to set the tasks for the day!
It is open daily in summer and there is a small entrance fee. Toilets on the site. In winter, the site is closed but visitors are welcome to look at the building from the outside.