Andre bygningar, Vikinggarden Avaldsnes

Other buildings

Text Marit Synnøve Vea

The shape of this building is based on archaeological evidence from a building in Ytre Moa, Sogn. (Photo Marit Synnøve Vea)

OTHER BUILDINGS

Few Viking Age buildings are found in Norway
It is found many prehistoric buildings in Norway, both from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Nevertheless, the finds of houses from the Viking Age are quite few. Had it not been for the many finds from Viking burials and depots, one could have believed that Norway experienced a significant population decline during this period.

The researchers speculate on why we so seldom find buildings from the Viking Age. Some think it is because Viking Age buildings were located at the same place as the present-day farm houses and still can be find underneath these. Others believe that we are looking for the wrong type of building techniques. If, for example, notching technique were common building practice earlier than expected, it will be more difficult to find notched house than houses with underground pillars.

Service house 1
The Service house is set down near the sea. The shape of this building is based on archaeological finds from Ytre Moa, Sogn.
The building material is pine and oak. The roof is covered with turf.

The inside of this building hides the modern necessities that is required to use the Viking Farm today. Here you can find toilets, showers and storerooms.

The house is a traditional trestle built construction. It is used as lodging for school children. (Photo Marit Synnøve Vea)

Service house 2
This house is used as office building for those who work at the Viking Farm.

Accommodation building
This building is built as a traditional frame-built house. It is used as lodging for school children that visit the Viking Farm. The house has a small window with muscovite in the gable.

There are found several such houses with straight walls during excavations of the “Viking towns”. Such houses were however not common on Norwegian farms in the Viking Age. As far as anyone can tell from a scant material, curved walls were the dominating feature on Norwegian Viking farmsteads.

Sheds and storerooms
Several places on the farm you find small building used for various purposes. Some are tool sheds, some are used as storerooms some are used as workshops, some are used when there are animals on the farm etc.

Quay
By the sea, close to the service house, you will find a modern quay that can receive larger boats.

viking — Vikings

The Viking Age was the years between 750 – 1100 when people from Norway, Sweden and Denmark made a name for themselves and became a political force to be reckoned with throughout Europe. From their travels in Europe, they adopted new ideas, cultural impulses and a new religion – Christianity.

The Vikings are best known as pirates and warriors, but they were also sailors, merchants, craftsmen, farmers, fishermen, poets, explorers and nation-builders. The Scandinavian national states were founded during the Viking Age. And it is now the Northerners develop a vessel that better organized and wealthier societies on the Continent don’t have; The Viking ship. It was the seaworthiness of the Viking ships, together with the sailors’ knowledge of navigation and seamanship, which made it possible for them to conquer the ocean .
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vikinggard — Viking Farm

The Viking Farm is situated a ten minutes’ walk from the Middle Age church at Avaldsnes. You will find it on a small, forested island, just inside the rocks where king Olav Tryggvason in 998 drowned a group of wizards.

In the farmyard you will find a longhouse, a boat house for a Viking warship, a roundhouse and several smaller buildings. Outside the farmyard there are paths through the forest for those who will just seek some peace and tranquility.

In the summer season the Viking Farm is open for tourists. All year in the evenings and in weekends it is possible to rent the longhouse for guided tours and banquets. Each year in June there is a Viking Festival at the Viking Farm. Then Vikings from many countries set up their tents among the reconstructed buildings.
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The sagas tell that king Olav Tryggvason opened several burial mounds at Avaldsnes. (Photo Ørjan Iversen) — History Centre

Nordvegen History Centre tells the story about how Avaldsnes became The First Royal Throne of Norway. Harald Fairhair, the king who unified Norway into one kingdom, will present you for princes and kings who ruled the “North Way” from Avaldsnes.

Some of these rulers we know from the sagas of the Norwegian kings, the heroic sagas and old skaldic poems. Others have become known to us through archaeological digs.
You will also get a glimpse into the magic world that people once believed to be true and meet sorcerers, shield maidens and Norse gods.

At the Nordvegen History Centre, we tell these stories of old using films, sound clips, lights, figures and objects. WELCOME TO AN EXCITING VISIT!
Read more here

Other buildings

Vikings

Viking Farm

History Centre