Grubenhaus
Encyclopedia
A Grubenhaus is a type of sunken floored building built in many parts of northern Europe
between the 5th and 12th centuries AD. In the United Kingdom, they are sometimes also known as 'grubhuts' or 'grubhouses'.
Archaeological evidence indicates they were built in a shallow sub-rectangular pit around 250mm deep and measuring around 2m by 1.5m. Within this pit were placed two substantial wooden posts in posthole
s at either end of the long axis. It is likely that a suspended wooden floor lay over the pit and that the cavity beneath was used for storage or to control dampness although other interpretations consider that grubenhäuser did not have suspended floors at all. A gable
d roof supported by the timber posts covered the hut which likely had no windows and had a single entrance at one end.
Grubenhäuser are often understood to be domestic dwellings. However, it is necessary to distinguish regionally. In Western Europe their small size and the fact that they can be found near to other buildings and associated finds of loom weights has led to theories that they had a specialised purpose such as weaving
sheds. In the Slavonic regions of Eastern Europe, Grubenhäuser are larger and often have a fireplace. In most settlements there have been no features of buildings at ground level.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
between the 5th and 12th centuries AD. In the United Kingdom, they are sometimes also known as 'grubhuts' or 'grubhouses'.
Archaeological evidence indicates they were built in a shallow sub-rectangular pit around 250mm deep and measuring around 2m by 1.5m. Within this pit were placed two substantial wooden posts in posthole
Posthole
In archaeology a posthole is a cut feature used to hold a surface timber or stone. They are usually much deeper than they are wide although truncation may not make this apparent....
s at either end of the long axis. It is likely that a suspended wooden floor lay over the pit and that the cavity beneath was used for storage or to control dampness although other interpretations consider that grubenhäuser did not have suspended floors at all. A gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d roof supported by the timber posts covered the hut which likely had no windows and had a single entrance at one end.
Grubenhäuser are often understood to be domestic dwellings. However, it is necessary to distinguish regionally. In Western Europe their small size and the fact that they can be found near to other buildings and associated finds of loom weights has led to theories that they had a specialised purpose such as weaving
Weaving
Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. The other methods are knitting, lace making and felting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling...
sheds. In the Slavonic regions of Eastern Europe, Grubenhäuser are larger and often have a fireplace. In most settlements there have been no features of buildings at ground level.
See also
- Dugout (shelter)Dugout (shelter)A dugout or dug-out, also known as a pithouse, pit-house, earth lodge, mud hut, is a shelter for humans or domesticated animals and livestock based on a hole or depression dug into the ground. These structures are one of the most ancient types of human housing known to archeologists...
- Earth houseEarth houseAn earth house is an architectural style characterized by the use of natural terrain to help form the walls of a house. An earth house is usually set partially into the ground and covered with thin growth...
- Earth lodgeEarth lodgeAn earth lodge is a semi-subterranean building covered partially or completely with earth, best known from the Native American cultures of the Great Plains and Eastern Woodlands. Most earth lodges are circular in construction with a dome-like roof, often with a central or slightly-offset smoke...
- Earth shelteringEarth shelteringEarth sheltering is the architectural practice of using earth against building walls for external thermal mass, to reduce heat loss, and to easily maintain a steady indoor air temperature...
- Pit-housePit-houseA pit-house is a dwelling dug into the ground which may also be layered with stone.These structures may be used as places to tell stories, dance, sing, celebrate, and store food. In archaeology, pit-houses are also termed sunken featured buildings and are found in numerous cultures around the world...
