A reconstructed Viking longhouse near Stong, Iceland.

The Stong Viking farmhouse or longhouse re-construction, rear elevation. Iceland.

In 1939 a the remains of Viking age farmhouse was discovered and excavated at Stöng in Thjórsárdalur valley. It was believed to have been buried in volcanic ash in 1104. As part of the 1100th anniversary of Icelandic Settlement a reconstruction of the house and buildings was created a few kilometres away in 1974. This photograph from 1987 shows the rear elevation of the Great Hall extending into a smaller kitchen and work room with two wings for a latrine and a dairy/pantry. As Iceland is largely un-forested, timber had to be imported, as it would have been in the Viking Age. This frame was then clad in insulating turf which is grassed to reduce erosion. The site is the property of the National Museum of Iceland.