The area where generations of Great Hall buildings once stood, have previously been open for excavations.
Many buildings have been built in the same area during the Iron age.
The building from 500 A.D period is one of the best preserved. This is the one that we also have chosen for the game from Quest 4, the Murder Mystery!

What did they use as building material?

The buildings during the Iron Age in Scandinavia were built of so-called organic building material, such as for example wood and straw. These materials are rarely preserved to our days.

It is also important to remember that only a fraction of the objects in ancient times have been preserved to the present. Objects made of organic matter such as wood and textiles quickly break down in the soil. We therefore need to imagine tools, furniture, clothes and much more to get a better picture of Uppåkra during the Iron Age.

Use the information below in order to make your own interpretation of what the building looked like, and what objects there were inside!  

For example: Choose the building material that the people at Uppåkra might have used. Write down why you choose this material based on facts and educated guesses. This task often triggers questions. What we know so far (in 2026):


Roof bearing posts: In the bottom of the holes, they had put big stones to support the posts. We do not know what material the posts were made of, but oak is a sustainable material that might have been used. Roof: So far, there have not been any finds indicating what the roof was made of. But the roofs during the Iron Age in Scandinavia were usually made of straw, or reed.  

Walls: Parts of the walls were found. They were made with so called wattle and daub technique, meaning that intertwined branches were covered with yellowish clay.

Floor: The floor was also made of yellowish, hardened clay. Finds: The finds inside the building shows that the people living in this house were rich, prominent people. It was the home of the leading family of Uppåkra! Many objects made of gold and silver such as brooches and coins have been found, as well as glass sherds that were once beautiful bowls and beakers. They have also uses bowls and beakers made of ceramics.   

What did they put on their table? Finds of tons of animal bones, waste from what seems to have been big feasts, have been made. They ate for example veal, pork, lamb, fish (herring and cod) and meat from horse. They probably drank beer, brewed by the big ovens found at Uppåkra. The also ate cale, turnip and carrot, and used dill and parsley. These were plats that had been imported from the roman empire and were very luxurious at the time. 

‍Charred grains: The charred grains of barley from this building shows that the people stored big jars of grain inside the building. Perhaps it was the food supplies for the winter?

Bear claws: On the floor of the building bear claws have been found. This might be what’s left of a bear fur that once was spread on the floor.