Iron Age - Glastonbury Lake Village
Mound 59

The purpose of the build was to explore a very small house, maintaining the usability of such a structure, and to record the time taken to construct, as well as record the quantity of materials required to complete.

With the south facing door, and a +2m high interior, it proved suitable for textile production. The interior was well lit, and a number of looms could be worked on simultaneously. There was ample space to hang skeins of wool, and dried dye-plant bundles in the roof.

Jump to Construct

The Evidence

Here is the drawing of it's position, including floor spread of clay, and existing post holes.

This house was found in the North-Centre edge of the Lake Village.

The house was aprox 4.6m (14' 6") in diameter. Post size 5-8cm (2"- 3") with a maximum spacing of 25cm (10"). The position of the doorway is missing, so taking into account of the surrounding houses, and the edge of the island, it was decided to place the doorway on the South side of the house.

Back to Top

Experimental Construct of M59

To begin the construct, the size and positioning of the house is the first evidence to be used. The diameter of the house, and the orientation of the door, dictate these parameters.
The state of the ground under the building was considered, and the decision to attempt a light weight build was undertaken.

The wall was constructed of hazel stakes of 25-30mm diameter by 2m long. Holes were punched in the floor, and the stakes inserted in the holes. A lintel is put in place to define the doorway.
Due to the spacing of the stakes, willow was the option for waeving the wattle wall.
The rafters were mounted on the top of the wall, and lashed in place
Purins were lashed to the rafters in horizontal rings, and the thatch sewn to the purlins. The thatch on this house was water reed.
To save weight, and materials, the thatch was sewn on in stepped rings.
Thatch goes on quickly on a house this small.
Thatch almost complete.
Roof complete, and walls clay washed. There would not have been chalk available on the lake village to make lime.
Back to Top