Building an Anglo-Saxon Pit House with Hand Tools - Part III | Medieval Primitive Bushcraft Shelter

[@nosuchthingasshould4175]

It’s amazing how fundamental basketry was to civilisation.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Very true indeed!

[@williamthomas2278]

I was just thinking the same thing 😅

[@georgeclinton4524]

I was watching the KZbinr Primitive Technology recently and he noted that the smoke from the firepit inside his structure served to cure and preserve the thatching as well as somewhat waterproofing it. Of course you have to be careful not to burn the structure down (which he's accidentally done before lol). You could try building small cook-fires in there or a rudimentary clay brick oven.

[@gesithasgewissa]

You're exactly right! Here in Britain modern day thatchers sometimes find medieval smoke blackened thatch still preserved under generations of thatch layers! The smoke gathering at the rafters will also help to extinguish any stray sparks. I'm looking forward to experimenting with small hearth fires and maybe a clay oven. Thanks for sharing!

[@andrews6323]

Im guessing that with Englands climate being very rainy that the thatch would be quenched thoroughly most of the year protecting from stray embers. Idk just assuming.

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@andrews6323 Very true Andrew!

[@jrnsteen8136]

You know primitive technology is fake right.

[@HieiUA]

Уф, сподіваюся, що вбудований перекладач з Ютубу спрацює правильно, бо своїй англійській я не дуже довіряю. В Японії існував такий вид будинків як (gasshō-zukuri), і їхня конструкція, для захисту від паразитів, передбачала, що дим з першого поверху проходив через усі верхні, і вже потім виходив на вулицю. Це, звісно, трошки інакший приклад застосування цієї технології, але просто як цікавий факт. Також, дахи цих будинків досить специфічні, сходяться під гострим кутом, та дуже високі. Тому, проблеми шкідливого задимлення не виникало 👌

[@sterain61]

I don't know why but this house makes me feel like I want to go home. This house just feels like home...😊

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@jimwalker5412]

Absolutely fascinating to see how our ancestors lived and worked, thank you for your time and effort

[@gesithasgewissa]

Glad you find it fascinating, as do I! Thanks for watching

[@vladabocanek3703]

@jimwalker5412 They didn't do it exactly like this man. You would find it much more "horrific" in reality. This man is clean, has time to do it. In reality they had to do everything as fast as possible from first light till last. Everything in hurry, just to survive.

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@vladabocanek3703Anglo-Saxon people were clean too, they washed every day, just like us. Also, the workmanship and decoration of most Anglo-Saxon objects suggests they had the time to develop a rich culture of art and tradition. But I am lucky in the fact that my survival doesn't depend on getting this house built and the harvest in!

[@vladabocanek3703]

@@gesithasgewissa True, we know a lot of carvings and beauty from that time. Question is who made it for whom... Did it made pesant for his girl or some craftman for money? Ofcourse, they washed every day. But not until work was done - better - until dusk, after that they ate a lot and fell to bed exhausted. Building new house in competition with food (in time of daylight) is the most exhausting era of life.

[@ChuntyCops]

@@vladabocanek3703you say that but we can’t know.

[@PurpleRain123453]

This dude has the actual legitimate dark-age workman build.

[@gesithasgewissa]

😄😄😄 thank you sir

[@ahtaimo]

It's interesting to think how much of our ancestors' lives were "woven" rather than constructed.

[@gesithasgewissa]

It's true, it was such an integral part of historical culture and craft!

[@DefaultFlame]

It's looking downright cozy already, if something of a fire hazard. I can imagine that thatch fires are freaking terrifying.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Definitely! I'm very careful with my fires 😅

[@MarcusLobenstein]

@@gesithasgewissa would throwing liquid clay against the ceiling help prevent fires? How did they prevent burning down there house every x years :D

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@MarcusLobenstein The smoke rising up into the thatch before exiting at the smoke holes, it creates a 'smoke ceiling' and the low oxygen extinguishes any sparks before they reach the thatch, although if you are burning seasoned hazel or something similar, there aren't many sparks anyway.

[@solanumdulcamara]

The German KZbinrs „Naturensöhne“ are big fans of this content and channel. They love to watch all parts.

[@gesithasgewissa]

I've seen their videos, they're great! Thanks for watching

[@williamthomas2278]

The two things that impressed me the most are the basket weaving and how important the blacksmith was in those days

[@gesithasgewissa]

Very much so!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Hi all! You can check the subtitles and description for much more detail. Thanks for watching! If you like what I do and want to support me further, consider becoming a patron: www.patreon.com/gesithasgewissa/ This first layer of grass thatching is not completely waterproof in heavy rain, so I will be using this as a base coat of thatch into which to secure a layer of more durable thatch material, either longstraw or bracken, depending on which is easiest to source. I have been getting a few questions on the choice of grass as a thatching material, so I will try and answer that fully here: Wheat straw or water reed are the most common thatching materials in Britain today, and have been for the last century. However, in the past people used whatever was locally available to thatch houses. Even in the 19th century this ranged from straw and reed to heather, marsh grass, bracken and even dried potato stems! It is true that some, like straw and reed, are more durable than others and better at shedding water, but in theory anything should work as long as it is laid directionally and laid thick enough. Grass is not very durable, but I wanted to harvest some of the thatch myself, by hand and on foot, and grass was what I had locally available. Since I will be using this grass layer as a base coat, its durability should not be an issue. Bracken thatch at a similar thickness has lasted me a whole year, albeit on a much smaller shelter. I would have preferred to use bracken but it meant travelling farther on foot which would have doubled the time spent on the project. Remember, this is experimental archaeology - everyone knows straw and reed work as thatch materials, but ancient people may have used other materials and this is the way to test them!

[@JTSuter]

Basically, it's basketweaving a house. This is totally feasible almost anywhere where there's a forest and medium-tall grass.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Exactly!!

[@timnewland4186]

What a beautiful thing to watch. Thank you.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you for watching!

[@prairieprepper]

It's so neat to think that each dwelling would have been so personal to the builder, even though the technique would have been similar, because they would have been using such human measurements as the length of their forearm or the span of a pace to measure.

[@gesithasgewissa]

That's a lovely way to look at it! Thanks for sharing ☺

[@feliciapate7926]

It’s neat to see skills that were once common (and if history repeats itself like it has before) may become common again. How our ancestors found ways to solve common problems according to their own environments is fascinating. We could take a cue and build according to our environments.

[@gesithasgewissa]

A very good point, I agree!

[@gesithasgewissa]

@MrRalphsmom There are captions, you can turn on the subtitles in the settings menu ☺

[@pedromadrigali187]

Imagine going through all that work just for a raider toss a torch on it 💀

[@realtalunkarku]

That's why you appoint theigns and earls and kings and warriors to guard you

[@asef698]

I always say this about American houses. Imagine going through all that work just for some wind to blow it down.

[@Capsainn]

@@asef698yeah i wish we used more brick ngl a average house cost 400k and somehow its all mostly made of wood

[@vsGoliath96]

​@@Capsainn There's a new subdivision being constructed right down the road from me and I've been keeping an eye on the houses out of curiosity. I haven't seen a single brick put down, it's all timber with cheap synthetic siding and they're *definitely* not insulating and water proofing these places properly for the PNW. Meanwhile the signs on the road proudly display, "Brand new houses starting at only $800k!"

[@catherinemurray1618]

It totally amazed me how housing was created with not a single nail. I'm totally in awe.

[@gesithasgewissa]

If you've seen my recent nail making video, you'll understand why, haha!

[@catherinemurray1618]

@@gesithasgewissa I'm just a new subscriber and I'm totally enjoying with interest your videos and content. I'll work my way through each video! 😁

[@uselessfodder3360]

My wife and I have been eagerly awaiting the next part of this project and it did not disappoint! The craft you show off in these videos is incredible and I'm very pleased we get to witness your progress. I'm also a huge fan of the style of presentation with no talking and just the nice sounds nature and your work. Thanks for another great video!

[@gesithasgewissa]

I'm really happy you are so interested in the project, and glad I can share it with you! It's great to work with traditional tools in harmony with nature, I feel very lucky. Thanks for sharing!

[@mtgemperor]

Thank you for this series! This is enlightening; seeing what our distant ancestors built in Northern Europe. This is Post-Roman Europe and has been a fascination of mine, though recently acquired. Sometimes, we in the modern world, forget that these houses meant life or death; protect ourselves in a chaotic world. Thanks again for doing this! Instant subscriber since part 1! 😁

[@gesithasgewissa]

Welcome! Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate them! Late Roman Antiquity and the Early Medieval Period are my favourite historical periods to learn about too.

[@IvoTichelaar]

There were still people living in pit houses in the Netherlands in the first half of the 20th century. I suspect some of my ancestors did as well, based on some stories and locations where they lived. I have been in replicas and the overall structure was strikingly similar to this one. There was a law, that a house built overnight and completed by daybreak ("smoke in the chimney") could remain where it was built. I wonder whether it was a young invention, or a persistent building tradition. The region where my family is from is at the overlap of Frisian and Saxon heritage.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Yes, during the first half of the 20th century in the Scottish Highlands people were still living in blackhouses, which are not far removed from a Medieval longhouse, with an open fire pit! In the Early Saxon period, there was still land available for a freeman to settle unopposed, but I'm sure the law has Medieval roots. Thanks for sharing!

[@joshschneider9766]

It was a persistent building tradition. Cousins of the angles juts and Saxons that combined to be known to history as anglo Saxons were building them all over the continent at the same time their island borne cousins were.

[@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo]

This was the same law where i live in the Shropshire hill country England, if you could get smoke coming out of the chimney in 24 hours you could claim the land the house was built on, what people did was build a large fireplace and chimney then lean some branches and thatch against it this gave them time to build it properly, the result today is small cottages with huge fireplaces and chimneys, most have had extensions built on but there are still a few small ones with huge what are called inglenook fireplaces.

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo Interesting! Thanks for sharing

[@drnerdrage2535]

Man is peasant-maxing and I'm here for it.

[@gesithasgewissa]

that's me, revolting peasant! 😄

[@barterinn123]

Absolutely engrossing to see the craftsmanship and ingenuity involved in building an Anglo-Saxon house. Your project serves as a vivid time capsule, offering a tactile link to our ancestors who balanced the fine line between survival and ingenuity. Can't wait to see how this structure fares over time. Keep up the excellent work!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Beautifully worded, you described the aim of this project exactly! Thank you Jack. The beauty is in the challenge, here's to the next one...a bit more thatching I think 😉

[@ChuntyCops]

This is like primitive technology but for history nerds

[@gesithasgewissa]

That's exactly what I was going for haha! Thanks for watching!

[@ChsM-jk4oy]

I started off likening the outdoors stuff bow I'm becoming a history nerd 😅😂

[@jeffwebb727]

Fantastic video as always! I've been eagerly awaiting this. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you! The thatching was a great challenge but I really enjoyed it, and I'm very happy to share it with you all.

[@joshfoster9832]

Gonna be the envy of the whole fyrd with that hall

[@gesithasgewissa]

😄 will have to defend it fiercely!

[@tnwhiskey68]

I really appreciate the passion for exploring any method of doing things that has been mostly forgotten! Thanks for keeping skills alive!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you for the kind words! I am happy that so many people are still interested in the old skills and in preserving them!

[@glenmorrison8080]

The thought of having a fire going anywhere near that dry thatch roof unnerves me a bit. But I figure it just necessitates keeping your ember production under control...

[@gesithasgewissa]

The indoor hearth fire creates a smoke ceiling which suppresses sparks before they reach the thatch. But I'm of course always very careful.

[@evanpax8585]

This is amazing. Great work! Sometimes I think we were duped into these 30 year mortgages lol

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you! I'd take a Saxon hut any day 😆

[@XL-5117]

These videos are by far the most interesting I have come across on KZbin. You have obviously done a great deal of research into this and it shows how possible it is to make a structure like this from scratch using purely natural materials. I’m impressed that you also seem unscathed and unharmed by handling raw and often dangerous materials. This is also backbreaking work and you are handling nettles and brambles routinely and it doesn’t seem to bother you. Thanks for sharing this with us, your skills are amazing.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you appreciate the research behind the project. It's hard work but well worth the effort ☺

[@alexandermendez4653]

Check out Primitive Technology. It's similar but he uses all hand made stone tools and he makes some incredible things. I think he was the inspiration for this channel.

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@alexandermendez4653 He was indeed!

[@vitalikmark5399]

Нереально круті відео. Завжди чекаю з нетерпінням нових та дивлюся з таким захватом. Це краще, ніж будь-які голлівудські екранізації, будь-які саги. Атмосфера захоплює. Хочеться жити у твоїх відео:)

[@gesithasgewissa]

I am honoured by such kind praise, thank you so much!

[@BleachedWheat]

My favorite part is where the dry grass pile gets bigger every time you pull from it!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Haha! Magic grass pile!!

[@BleachedWheat]

@@gesithasgewissa haha, nice!

[@RENATVS_IV]

This is so relaxing and easy to see. Thank you for throwing us back to British Medieval days

[@gesithasgewissa]

I'm glad you enjoyed, thanks for watching!

[@peterlake1547]

Great progress on the build so far. Its amazing how our ancestors could build a house without a mortgage

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thanks Peter!

[@ashermorgen]

I say we all move a remote area and start calling ourselves Anglo-Saxons again

[@gesithasgewissa]

You're welcome to come join me 😆

[@darrelljacobjr2120]

Due to poor circulation the toes on my right foot are one step removed from gangrene, exceedingly painful. Haven't managed to force myself to build the recumbent pedal-chair which Should heal them, so your video provided a very needed distraction from the hideous pain i was experiencing changing the bandages. A very traditional build. If i'm going to live in it all winter, i prefer something bigger, and since i know how to build a 'rocket mass heater' i can heat the larger space efficiently and safely. Not historically accurate, like the layer of plastic sheeting i would imbed in the thatching, but i like being warm and dry while still Pretending it's the middle ages. Hail Odin!

[@gesithasgewissa]

I'm glad to hear my video brought you some relief, thank you for sharing! The Saxons had no rocket mass heaters but they did have clay ovens which might have provided a bit of thermal mass and warmth over the winter, not to mention a cosy open hearth! Yes, staying completely historically accurate with this build allows me to experience the historical challenges first hand, it's not quite warm and dry yet 😆 This first layer of grass thatching is not completely waterproof in heavy rain, so I will be using this as a base coat of thatch into which to secure a layer of more durable thatch material, either longstraw or bracken, depending on which is easiest to source.

[@Whatev82]

Stunningly beautiful, your videos are almost magical to me. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you so much! I can't wait to show you all!

[@lyndioli]

Was hoping there was a #3 and now hoping for more! This is not only great to watch but very informative! With the world as it is today, many of us might need this build info for ourselves in the near future! a big thank you for sharing!!!🌎🌏🌍✌️

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you for the kind words, I'm glad you are enjoying the series! Part IV coming soon!

[@b.rreske7641]

Not only is the idea and execution of the video good, you also leave links to your sources in the description. thanks.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Glad you appreciate the references!

[@walllord]

you absolutely deserve more attention. great contend.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@MrDraugthalion]

This series is such a blast. Could you share more details? Somewhere in the comment, you said that it took you a month of work to build, and half of it was procuring materials. I love this kind of data, and it would be a shame to have it lost. That said, I have a bunch of questions. I'm afraid I might repeat it after you finish the whole project. All the questions assume to exclude recording. How long were your work days? How many work days it took you? How long did it take to build every part of the house individually: pruning digging building wattle walls building supports the first layer of thatch the second layer of thatch daubing (if any) How long did it take to procure materials for the above individually? I know it is a lot to ask, but it would be amazing to have this data.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Hi! I generally don't tend to keep exact track of work hours on projects like this, just because time spent on things can be so variable between different projects, even if attempting to replicate the same thing, due to weather, skill level, number of people working, distance to resources (this is a big one for thatch!) and so on. Even so, I can give you my best estimate from memory so far: removing blackthorn: 1 day digging the pit: 3 days building wattle walls: 1 day harvesting, 2 days building building the roof frame: 3 days harvesting (took some time to find the right timber and good withy material), 4 days building first layer of grass thatch: 20 days total, 7 days on the thatching, 13 days on harvesting, and transporting the thatch! second layer of straw thatch: this video isn't out yet, but I recently finished thatching the roof with straw. I didn't harvest any of this and had it brought right next to the house, but it was a similar volume to the grass thatch. I thatched this layer in just 3 days! Granted, I was working dawn till dusk to get the roof on before some bad weather, so about 30 hours total. But this goes to show the difference it makes to, firstly, have the thatch material very close to the building, and secondly, have a bit of skill in the craft (my second time thatching, I already knew what to do). Another point with the thatching: I used about 200 metres of tarred hemp cordage for the thatching, which I didn't make myself! I can make similar nettle or bast cordage at a rate of about 3 metres per hour. So if I had made all of the cordage myself, you could add another 8 days!! Thatching the ridgelines: 2 days, including gathering timber material. Wattle infill of the gable ends: 1 day, including gathering hazel material. Daubing: I haven't started yet, but ask me again on the next video and I will let you know. I'm very happy to help with questions like this and pleased that people are taking such an interest! Total days so far: 39 (+ 8 theoretical days cordage making) Caveat: the number of hours I spend in a day can range from 6 to 10. Thank you for watching and the great question! ☺

[@leecogdell652]

Killer house brother! You’ve really outdone yourself and your old school technology is absolutely fantastic so keep up the great work!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you! It's important to try and keep traditional technologies alive, and it's fun!

[@brianevans1851]

Awesome watching looks like it would keep you warm and dry in winter but for rainy weather I think you would be soaked

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you! This first grass thatch layer is just a base coat. I have since put a weathering coat of thatch straw on which is waterproof even after many days of heavy rain. You'll be able to see that in Part IV of this series

[@alexeykudin]

Good job! Do you have a video of how this roof behaves in heavy rain?

[@gesithasgewissa]

If you take a look at the following video - Part IV, you'll see the finished roof in heavy rain. Thanks for watching!

[@ek-nz]

I love that you base your informative videos on archaeological research and cite that research in your description. This channel is both entertaining and academic - a challenging and rewarding achievement!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you, I'm glad you appreciate the academic side of it as well, staying true to the historical period and accurately reflecting the archaeology is really important to me!

[@ek-nz]

@@gesithasgewissa I love experimental archaeology. I wish I could do more of it myself, so I really appreciate the time and effort you’re putting in to do it for all of us to enjoy and learn from. You do such a great job of creating a feeling of immersion in the time period, which is really important and far from easy!

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@ek-nz Reading messages like this makes it all worth it, thanks for the inspiration!

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@ek-nz Just an update to this in the spirit of experimental archaeology: This first layer of grass thatching is not completely waterproof in all day heavy rain, so I will be using this as a base coat of thatch into which to secure a layer of more durable thatch material, either longstraw or bracken, which I will film as Part IV or V of this series!

[@ek-nz]

@@gesithasgewissa I really look forward to seeing how it goes! I always find it amazing how thick thatch needs to be in order to keep out rain. I wish you all the best with collecting the next layers - I know you’ll be working hard for it.

[@soldier-Dave]

I love how you “ story-fy” your videos!! Just found your channel….loads of back videos to catch up on .new subber thank you ! Great content and skills!dave🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@gesithasgewissa]

Welcome, and thank you! I try and weave in as much story and history as I can, and really enjoy it ☺

[@patablanche5075]

It’s utilitarian, yet the artistry is beautiful

[@gesithasgewissa]

I do love functional beauty!

[@SJC_Construct]

Just realised number 3 was out! Thanks for providing another quality viewing experience. Outstanding use of materials and a bloody good looking shelter.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you so much!

[@tomasrikona4021]

Still one of my favorites. Thank you brother.❤

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you! Glad you're enjoying the project

[@evanleclaire]

Been waiting on this episode!

[@gesithasgewissa]

It's finally here! Drying the thatch was a real challenge this last month!

[@evanleclaire]

Well worth the wait. Can’t wait to see more

[@yoiyomismo]

Very beautiful to see the built, and to imagine how people lived in those times. Thank you for sharing this amazing project.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

[@aravel5249]

Incredible work ethic and super build. However, its one spark away from a giant bonfire.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you! Actually, many Early Medieval thatched houses had open hearth fires inside. Rather than using a chimney, the smoke fills the roof space and slowly permeates through the thatch, creating a 'smoke ceiling'. This 'smoke ceiling' helps to extinguish any sparks before they reach the thatch, making the inside more fire proof. You can see examples of this at archaeological open air museums such as Butser Ancient Farm.

[@jo-ellenbass2261]

No machinery, no plastic. Good job noting that these things take time. In a village, some of the tasks might have been specialized, and materials stockpiled for when needed. Will there be a part 4?

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you! House building would have almost certainly been a communal effort yes. There will be a part IV, focus on the second layer of thatch and daubing. I'm currently filming it now! Thanks for watching

[@usmcMike05]

Can't wait to see you daub the walls and furnish the interior and do an overnight in it.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you! I can't wait to show you all!

[@jeanpierreragequit1726]

ça doit sentir bon la garigue et le romarin ( ambiance "Le château de ma mère" avec le bruit des cigales , les fameuses cigalous..kss kss kss.)

[@gesithasgewissa]

Beautiful!

[@solitairesmith3553]

Stumbled upon this video. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. gonna have to watch all of them😊

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy the rest of the series ☺

[@gayahithwen]

I've watched enough thatching videos to be a little bit concerned about the long-term sustainability of that roof. At least you did rake it over with your hands a bit there at the end, but I'm not sure that's going to be enough to effectively shed rain without getting damp in a way, which, you know... mold. Still, I acknowledge I don't actually know all that much about thatching, so maybe I'm overanalyzing here. Either way, I very much admire your dedication to your craft, and all the hard work you've clearly put into these videos!

[@gesithasgewissa]

This is just the first layer, I am using dried grass as a base coat mainly because I wanted to harvest some of the thatch myself. I am going to put a second weathering coat of longstraw or bracken over the grass base coat, so the durability of the grass shouldn't be an issue. So far the thatch can weather light to medium rain but not all day heavy rain. Hopefully with the next coat of thatch on it will be fully waterproof! As I'm trying to be as historically accurate as possible, I am not using tarps or anything to keep the layers dry while thatching it. I'm not sure the Saxons would have had any way to do that. Once finished, the small hearth fire may help to dry the thatch out, but then again perhaps thatch just didn't last so long back then if it got wet during thatching. I'm open to any suggestions though if you can think of a way they may have solved the issue in the 7th century. More people helping is one way I guess. Thank you for watching and the kind words!

[@gayahithwen]

​ @gesithasgewissa 2 months later (because youtube didn't notify me of your response at the time for some reason) - yeah, I think the real answer is, thatching a roof is one of those group activities where it really helps to have a whole tribe, to get it done fast before the rains come. Humans are a social species who specialize in community/cooperation as a survival strategy. Being self-sufficient is great, but what's even greater is *not needing* to be self-sufficient all the time. To take turns guarding each other while we sleep. To help someone else build a house, knowing that they'll return the favour when you need a new roof for your house, etc. But anyway, for the future - some degree of protection might also have been possible for someone working on their own like you are, stretched skins or waxed cloth, perhaps? Did the Gewissae ever use tents? If so, that's probably the kind of material they'd use for a project like this. Anyway, I know you've already thatched the roof, so this is a bit of a moot point by now. Hope you're having a good day!

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@gayahithwen Yes, very rarely in history have humans been individually self-sufficient. Even amongst subsistence communities there would have been a high degree of cooperation. It is indeed human nature. Certainly there were water-resistant coverings available. Woollen sails or tents could be water-proofed with pitch or fat, and the Romans used goat-hide tents which would have been waterproof. The difficulty is, that all these fabrics would have been hugely expensive during the period. For reference, the wool sail of a small Viking-style clinker ship may have been as expensive or even more so than the ship itself. And so the average Anglo-Saxon freeman would have been unlikely to afford these. Funnily enough, thatching was the main cheap, temporary and expendable weather-proof covering during the Medieval times. Incomplete Norman stone castles were often temporarily thatched over during the winter to keep half-finished timber and stone-work dry until the summer building season. But it doesn't make so much sense to build a thatched roof to keep a thatched roof dry! 😆

[@gayahithwen]

@@gesithasgewissa I know, it'd have been super expensive, but if you ever do need something like a tarp, maybe you can pretend that your tribe has one treasure that gets passed around very carefully for situations just like these. I know it'd be stretching historical credibility a little bit, but then again, so is doing a whole house's worth of thatching by yourself, so I figure that seems fair enough. But obviously you get to decide how you want to do your project, and if you think a big piece of tar-covered cloth is just too unbelievable, don't do it. Just trying to think of a narrative that makes your project easier, you know? 🙂 As always, I remain hugely impressed by your dedication to your work.

[@HrafnirKrumr]

A great deal of information is delivered here. And it is pleasing to watch too! Thank you for your work!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thanks for watching Hrafnir! I try to include as much information as possible in case anyone wants to have a go as well.

[@charlesquinnell469]

Always wanted to build one of these. Great to watch someone else doing it! Well done!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you! It is great fun, and can always be done on a smaller scale!

[@rickyg9200]

When skill matches ingenuity,, Bravo

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you so much!

[@Annie-ex3ge]

I think it is very importaant how you assemble the bundlesxo f thatch. Making them more streamlined would help to divert water away and not trap itvin the thatch. Keep up the good work!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thanks! This purpose of this layer is to provide a base to secure the weathering straw thatch into, you'll notice in Part IV all the straw is combed and aligned in the top coat of thatch ☺

[@RangoTheMango]

im not European but love this style will use for my own house!!!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Very cool! Similar thatched styles are used all over the world.

[@RangoTheMango]

@@gesithasgewissa yes i love those styles... have you experimented with wood ash mortar

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@RangoTheMango not yet, that's a nice idea

[@XaLoiVlog]

You need a mass of grass to complete the house, admire you. Living with the wild nature is the happiest, I'm also aiming for that. Happy lovely house

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you so much! It is a joy to live and work amongst nature.

[@jonno27]

That is so neatly done, and it looks just beautiful. I imagine that a thick layer would act as insulation. I really like the detail of cutting your own grass and testing a new material rather than what you know for sure is going to work best.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you for the kind words! Thatched roofs are very insulated. Yes, I wanted to show the process of gathering and processing a thatch material. I have since finished the roof with a straw weathering coat which you will see in Part IV!

[@patrickdurham8393]

I hope the guy building this in 661 is doing so for his grandkids since with a life expectancy of 38 years he might get to have a couple of meals in it before he gets called home.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Unfortunately I will probably outlive this house as it's made of hazel which doesn't last very long haha!

[@TROKChannel]

Love this content brother, keep it up! Seeing how our ancestors would have built their homes and collected resources is calming in a way.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you, it's good to stay connected to our ancestors!

[@evanpax8585]

Can’t wait to see the daubed walls!!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Daubing should be good fun!

[@capthappy345]

That is a lot of damn work. People had 2b tough as hell! 2day they r mush! Nicely done friend

[@gesithasgewissa]

Indeed, people were lean and tough! Thank you for watching!

[@TheudBaldM]

I love your work, keep posting! Some questions, maybe without answers for now : What is the durability of whities? Is the roof waterproof with that first layer, or it will only be with the next year's layer? Do you need to put a new layer every year? What is the durability of this type of building (pretending the roof is waterproof and well maintained) ? 10 years? 20? 50? Thanks a lot!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you Theud. First off, I love your videos too! I've never had a withy break on me, but I imagine their durability would be about the same as the wattle, both being of hazel and similar thickness. So I would guess 5 years exposed but under cover, or considerably more when incorporated into wattle and daub and daubed over, at least 20 years in well maintained cases. From what I have seen, the roof is shedding water nicely in light to medium rain, but I have yet to see it in heavy rain. Bracken thatch at a similar thickness has lasted me a whole year, but I haven't tried dried grass before. I will feel a lot more confident with another layer on next summer! I will definitely put another layer of thatch on next summer and then I will probably add extra coats or re coat as needed. Straw or reed thatched directionally like this (rather than the thicker standard dressed thatching) has a lifespan of 3 to 5 years so I imagine with less durable grass, I would need to re coat at least every 2 years. I haven't got a source in front of me so this is from memory, but the archaeology suggests most Anglo-Saxon houses were rebuilt or abandoned after 10 to 20 years, although many (including this pit-house) show evidence of repair such as new post-holes for secondary or replacement support posts, supporting the ridgepole or along the walls. For this reconstruction, if I just left the walls at wattle and daub, then I would predict a lifespan of about 10 (or less!) years until the wattle wall starts to crumble and the roof sags. However, I do plan to build up the walls thickly until they become a self-supporting cob wall. I think this might extend the lifespan of the house to 30 or more years, because the cob walls can be maintained, the ridgepole support posts can be replaced and I might even be able to replace rafters with some effort. Thanks for the questions, I enjoyed answering them!

[@TheudBaldM]

@@gesithasgewissa I couldn't imagine a better answer, thank you for the care you took! I can't wait to see what happens next through your videos. 3 years ago, I built a shelter covered by a layer of brambles and then hay thrown nonchalantly with a pitchfork. I then laid rafters on top of the hay to hold it in place and create a sort of gutter. My firewood was stored underneath and it worked pretty well, but not for more than a year. Your video made me want to reload a thick layer of hay on top of this shelter, so let's get to work!

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@TheudBaldM Your bramble, hay shelter gives me hope! Good luck with the thatching

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@TheudBaldM Just an update to this in the spirit of experimental archaeology: This first layer of grass thatching is not completely waterproof in all day heavy rain, so I will be using this as a base coat of thatch into which to secure a layer of more durable thatch material, either longstraw or bracken, which I will film as Part IV or V of this series!

[@TheudBaldM]

That's good to know, thanks for the update @@gesithasgewissa !

[@jito7377]

Beautiful work. Thanks for sharing.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you very much!

[@TnOrchidguy]

Thank you, brother, thank you - interesting and enlightening series.

[@gesithasgewissa]

You're very welcome, I'm glad you're enjoying it!

[@markcummings6856]

Incredible work, fascinating. You’ve inspired me to try a little something.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you so much, I'm glad it inspired you!

[@kristinwright6632]

My Gods. This technique for building was still used a thousand years later. I saw some of this in the cow barn reconstruction in Tales From the Green Valley. Absolutely compelling.

[@gesithasgewissa]

I really love that show!

[@kristinwright6632]

@@gesithasgewissa I loved all those series but Tales was my absolute favorite. Have to go back every couple of years and watch again. So needless to say I subbed to you after watching one of your videos for the first time.

[@gregoryallen1749]

When I'm in a flammable house competition and my opponent is this guy

[@gesithasgewissa]

Knocked it out the park 😄😄

[@yogertslinger84]

Love this. You took the format from the Primative Technology format and made it your own without all the clickbaity bullshit. Well done

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you. I think Primitive Technology's videos are great, he's a huge inspiration, but really wanted to make it my own thing too. I'm glad that comes across!

[@blackthornknives]

It's coming along very well

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you Eric!

[@stephanygates6491]

Looked like a lovely branch of hemlock at 5:50.

[@gesithasgewissa]

It's hogweed, not poisonous but it can burn you if you get the sap on your skin. I was just careful not to touch the freshly cut ends and everything was fine! Thanks for watching!

[@shawno3681]

I would assume people would have wanted a fire inside, but how does on avoid the roof catching on fire?

[@gesithasgewissa]

Yes, many pit houses are found with hearths inside. As there is no chimney, the smoke permeates slowly through the thatch and forms a "smoke ceiling" at around the height of the doorway, this extinguishes sparks before they reach the thatch. I plan to have a small cooking fire inside in the future. Thanks for watching!

[@TheShieldery]

Respect for that Project🍻🍻🍻 ! As a fellow reenactment-craftsmen, I am also interested in the short tunic and the trouser you are wearing. Could you please give the source to the commoners, my lord?

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you! The trousers are a reconstruction of the Saxon or Germanic finds from Thorsberg Mose, dating to the Roman Iron Age. The tunic is a reconstruction of the Högom tunic found in a wealthy burial in Högom, Sweden and dating to the Migration Period. You should be able to find the sources for them online, but if not I can help you out.

[@TJP-on7hm]

Without much you build fabulously!!!❤

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you so much!

[@nicklong7661]

I think covering it with thick mud might be good. Very cool

[@gesithasgewissa]

I will be daubing the walls with a mixture of earth and straw, and giving the roof another layer of straw thatch! Thanks for watching!

[@Idealdeath8304]

Super impressive man. Keep up the good work

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you so much!

[@malcwhite]

How well does it work in the rain?

[@gesithasgewissa]

This grass layer is a basecoat, it shed light to medium rain but was overwhelmed in heavy rain. I have since put the weathering coat of straw on which is completely waterproof, even after multiple days of heavy rain! You will see the straw thatch in Part IV coming soon. Thanks for watching!

[@Raycheetah]

I imagine that it would've been an extraordinary exception for such construction to be the work of one man; pretty sure there are complications faced by a solo builder which wouldn't trouble a team of builders. It'll be interesting to see how this roof holds up to the weather. =^[.]^=

[@gesithasgewissa]

Yes, where are those Saxon serfs when you need them? 😉I will be sure to get some good autumn rain footage in the next video!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Just an update to this in the spirit of experimental archaeology: This first layer of grass thatching is not completely waterproof in all day heavy rain, so I will be using this as a base coat of thatch into which to secure a layer of more durable thatch material, either longstraw or bracken, which I will film as Part IV or V of this series!

[@georgeallen7101]

As l recall the masi mara use cow dung on the food of their huts , over the roof and walls . Bakes like clay in the heat of the day . Easy to repair

[@rickywhite7578]

I hope there is more videos going to be made on this Saxon pit house. I'm interested to see more. You did wattle walls. but not wattle, and dob walls. Hopefully you will finish the walls, and make furnishings.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Absolutely, Part IV or V will focus on the closing in and daubing of the walls after the next layer of thatch. Thanks for watching!

[@TheWanderingIrishman]

Awesome build mate, I can see you put a lot of time and effort into it. Massive respect!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you so much!

[@PepBo]

Woooow! Great work... Love this channel! Looking forward to all your new videos!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you! I can't wait to share them with you!

[@leovigild_]

This is some amazing work man! Really interesting to see the process. The end result looks so sturdy and cozy. Looks like a lovely place to chill out. Thanks for the cool video.

[@gesithasgewissa]

It does feel very cosy inside, and will only get more so with the next layer of thatch, the walls daubed and windows and doorways timbered! Thank you Leo!

[@grimmwolfe4555]

Always a pleasure to see your videos. This was great. Thanks for making!

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you Wolfe!

[@Macovic]

Awsome work! Will work great? Very cool to see the process

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you!

[@andrebehr7290]

Watched your great Videos by the Naturensöhne and i love them.

[@gesithasgewissa]

I really enjoyed their reactions! Welcome!

[@andrebehr7290]

​@@gesithasgewissathank you.

[@dorkgirlalamode]

I'd always imagined the roof structure starting out more rigid--you've given me a lot to think about. Thanks.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Not absolutely necessary, but maybe more long-lived!

[@piddy3825]

thanks for the trip through time. now I'm curious how well a grass roof like that keeps the rain out. looking forward to seeing this project progress as the weather changes thru the seasons.

[@gesithasgewissa]

In the past, people thatched with all sorts of materials from marsh grass to potato stalks! The grass is experimental, but so far so good. Time will tell! I'm planning to add a second coat next summer anyway for more insulation and weather resistance. Thanks for watching!

[@piddy3825]

I can only imagine their resourcefulness@@gesithasgewissa

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@piddy3825 Just an update to this in the spirit of experimental archaeology: This first layer of grass thatching is not completely waterproof in all day heavy rain, so I will be using this as a base coat of thatch into which to secure a layer of more durable thatch material, either longstraw or bracken, which I will film as Part IV or V of this series!

[@gerardhogan3]

Hey mate greetings from Australia. You did a really good job on your house

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you very much! ☺

[@HeraldHealer]

I wonder how quickly one of these could go up historically with many skilled hands contributing? I know across many cultures and peroids of time construction often was (and still is) a group effort.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Yes, building houses would definitely have been a communal activity, as it is across cultures and history all over the word. I think, with three or four people, this could easily have been built within a month!

[@gernotwill9106]

Ich genieße deine Videos. Vielen Dank

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thanks for watching!

[@Wauzy]

Please fade in at the beginning, that you still get annotations with activated subtitles.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Hi, I don't like to add too much writing on to the actual video, but you should see an info notification in the top right of each video, somewhere in the beginning, reminding people to turn on subtitles for more information. Thanks for watching!

[@greenrena8503]

So, I'm guessing from the look of it that such a hut wouldn't have a open fire pit inside, becouse dry grass above. How would they heat such a hut or cook? Or will it get a real fireplace later on? Anyway, quite an impressive build so far. I'm looking forward to more episodes of this.

[@gesithasgewissa]

Anglo-Saxon pit houses have been found with hearths inside. As there is no chimney, the smoke from the open fire permeates slowly through the thatch and forms a "smoke ceiling" at around the height of the doorway, this extinguishes sparks before they reach the thatch. I will be testing it with a small fire inside, but if it feels too dangerous I will opt for a clay oven instead. Thanks for watching!

[@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo]

I believe in some towns you had to put your fire out before you went to bed, someone was employed to go around checking all fires had been extinguished before a certain time.

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo I went to an archaeological museum recently where they had pottery covers like a large upturned bowl which could be placed over the embers overnight, preventing sparks from rising and hopefully keeping some embers alive for the morning.

[@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo]

@@gesithasgewissa That's interesting i'd never heard of that before, i imagine they had many ways to make it safe, my own father used to use the bit's of coal and coal dust from the bottom of the coal shed mixed with water, he patted it on top of the fire at night before going to bed, in the morning he'd agitate it with the poker and it would spring back to life.

[@gesithasgewissa]

@@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo That's a great idea, a more impromptu version! Thanks for sharing. The pottery covers are called a "clay curfew" if you want to see what they look like.

[@kielbasathief9576]

What kind of cordage are you using to tie down the roof sticks? Seems like a lot of tying material used? Did it take you very long to make all of that?

[@gesithasgewissa]

I didn't make the cordage for the thatching, it is tarred flax cordage. I used about 200 metres in total! I can make nettle or bast cordage at about two or three metres per hour. So cordage making would have represented a significant task in the building of a house, and withies were most likely used wherever possible!

[@ingvaeon582]

Such a labour, beautiful video, man!

[@gesithasgewissa]

A labour of love! Thanks for watching!

[@Александр-э7б4д]

BRAVO , I LIKE IT , THANK YOU VERY MUCH !!!

[@gesithasgewissa]

I appreciate the enthusiasm! And thank you for watching!

[@isakjohansson112]

This build is awesome. I subscribed to see whats coming next. 😊 I rate this as high as primitive technology. 👏

[@gesithasgewissa]

Thank you Isak, that is high praise indeed! Welcome to the project!