Everyday life
It is well renowned how Scandinavia is widespread: the norther you go, the more challenging it is to live there. Then as today, people preferred to live in the south, where people lived in villages, some small, others larger, while the north lands were almost uninhabited; here, people lived in independent farms where a clan was gathered, namely an extended family and its servants. Among the different types of settlements unearthed, the elongated house (longhaus) stands out. It featured a square plan, a roof supported by pillars, benches along the walls that also acted as beds, a hearth in the center and no windows: there was only an opening in the roof to let the smoke out. The building was made of wood and rocks, peat, sod and sometimes plastered wattle. The economy was based on agriculture (mostly carried out by women and slaves), on breeding (cattle, sheep, pigs, horses and farm animals) and on hunting and fishing. Hunting was particularly important as it also provided exchange goods such as leather and furs. Finally, trade undoubtedly played a key role; thanks to this, great cities such as Birka, Hedeby, Ribe first and then, in the Christian era, Sigtuna, Oslo, Roskilde, Lund were founded.
