The Merovingian farm

According to archaeological excavations Goudelancourt-lès-Pierrepont - sixth, seventh centuries

This is a very partial reconstitution of a Merovingian farm

he farm on the excavated site covers nearly 5 acres. Here, we simply wanted to give an idea of how a farm could be at that time (different types of constructions and our assumptions, materials ...)

The main house

Construction

This reconstruction very faithful to the one of Goudelancourt was performed according to the techniques used in experimental archeology.

Its size (28 x 19 fts) is exceptional for the period. Its structure is composed of 13 posts included in the mud walls, and 3 ridge beams. The walls are mud, the roof is thatched, made with reeds, the rooftop is covered with clay.

 

Floor hypothesis

Inside the house, we proposed the reconstruction of a floor over half of the construction. There is no evidence that this floor has really existed, but this reconstruction shows that the construction of a floor posed no technical problem. The Merovingian were able to build such floors.

Fireplace and chimney

The particularity of this house is the presence of a fireplace (leaned to a wall) visible during the excavations, from which was reconstituted a chimney.

Some skeptical archaeologists says this type of structure appeared in the ninth-tenth century.

Furnishings

A very simple furniture was reconstituted within, with some basic elements like the trunk, the loom, table and benches that have survived through the centuries.

The loom is a faithful replica of a model found in a danish bog and dating from the late ninth century.

Windows assumption

No one knows their location, number and size... The reconstruction of windows is therefore hypothetical.

The huts

The different types of cabins are identified by the number of wooden poles that form the structure.

The simplest and smallest huts have two poles and form a kind of tent

Structure of a cabin with two poles

The 4 poles shack is more complex and includes a domestical furnace. La cabane à 4 poteaux est plus complexe et renferme un four domestique.

4 poles hut

Here we have proposed two assumptions:
- North side, a roof that descends to the ground and saving some areas;
- South side, a roof resting on a wall from inside the excavation.

Neither of the two assumptions poses a technical problem

 

Hypothesis 4 poles cabin

6 poles shack

The largest cabin consists of 6 poles. We can see here that the removal of walls of the excavation itself can increase the volume inside the cabin.

Park map

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