Aspects of the Construction of PrehistoricStállo-Foundations andStállo-Buildings

Abstract

The so-called stállo-foundations are the most prominent ancient monuments in the mountain areas of Sweden. On the basis of archaeological, historical and ethnological evidence, this paper discusses the type of construction likely to be associated with stállo-foundations dating to the Viking Age. It is argued, in contrast to most accepted ideas, that the stállo-foundations represent the remains of permanent hut dwellings. It is suggested that these huts were built from mountain birch and birch bark, on a bow-pole framework. The surrounding embankments and sunken floors, typical features of the foundations, allowed the construction of low-angled ceilings. This structural design would have enabled the buildings to withstand strong winds and the weight of lying snow, as well as increasing heat retention. In contrast to previous suggestions, that the stállo-sites were inhabited during the summer, we suggest that they were used during the winter. We also suggest that the stállo-foundations represent a system of reindeer herding in which the mountain ridges in the west and areas in Norway were used throughout the year.

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