germanic and celtic houses

**Dux Corvanus** · 08-07-2005, 21:21

The Celtic often dwelled in a protected village called castrum, which in its most modest configuration consisted in round houses made of wood and adobe -also stone- with a wooden and grass roof -that was not too durable and was changed every season- and some storing and common facilities, all rounded by a palisade. Of course, this is only the basic configuration: greater settlements and oppida -fortified positions- included more complex examples.

The Cantabrii -an Iberian northern tribe- actually built houses in the Celtic style. Last month, I had the chance to visit a reconstruction of one of those villages. It's the place you see in the pic. Don't get mistaken by their look, those huts are really comfortable. The top of the roof could be dismantled to change it for other new, or allow a bigger fire to be lit in the interior. There was an adobe bench all along the inner wall, as well as straw beds, storing pottery and straw boxes, and a central fireplace with cooking accesories and cauldrons suspended from hooks:

**Samurai Waki** · 08-07-2005, 21:33

actually that looks quite liveable

I have a certain nostalgia for my more ancient and medieval ancestors way of life, except for the pillaging, slavery, disease, and hairy armpits bit.

**the_handsome_viking** · 08-07-2005, 22:25

Originally Posted by Wazikashi

actually that looks quite liveable

I have a certain nostalgia for my more ancient and medieval ancestors way of life, except for the pillaging, slavery, disease, and hairy armpits bit.

I always thought the celts shaved off all their body hair... weird.

**Ranika** · 08-08-2005, 04:24

Celts did shave (or burn; I'll explain in a moment) all of their body hair off. Some Celts used a compound made with lye to essentially burn hair off, down to the follicle, so it wouldn't grown back; very painful. It was done out of matters of cleanliness. Celts were very big on personal hygiene, and body hair kept dirt close to the body.

And some Celtic houses show stonework types unlikely of Greek influence; generally the houses supposed to have belonged to wealthy merchants and aristocracy.

**Spongly** · 08-08-2005, 11:18

Most of the stone built roundhouses in Britain are, oddly enough, found in places where there is lots of stone and not much wood. They are pretty much built in the same way as a wooden roundhouse with stone walls replacing the wattle and daub. Hardly Greek influence, just a simple matter of available materials.

**Teutobod II** · 08-08-2005, 12:28

try this:

http://www.gsn.pbbn.de/faecher/latei...te/haeuser.htm

**Samurai Waki** · 08-08-2005, 18:58

Originally Posted by the_handsome_viking

I always thought the celts shaved off all their body hair... weird.

Did the Women?

Most ancient historians and Anthropologists left women out of their observations for the most part, unless they did something that was extremely noticeable... but seriously, do you know if Women did the same thing as the men... I'd hope so... it would make barbarian life back then just that much more enjoyable

**Dux Corvanus** · 08-09-2005, 00:04

Nay, nothing like tangling your fingers in the hairy breast of the woman you love...

**Ranika** · 08-09-2005, 01:14

Originally Posted by Wazikashi

Did the Women?

Most ancient historians and Anthropologists left women out of their observations for the most part, unless they did something that was extremely noticeable... but seriously, do you know if Women did the same thing as the men... I'd hope so... it would make barbarian life back then just that much more enjoyable

It's most likely; matters of cleanliness applied to everyone in a Celtic society, I don't see why women would be approached differently.

**Samurai Waki** · 08-09-2005, 03:20

well thats a load off my mind

jk

**SaFe** · 08-09-2005, 07:49

Will have to add my two cents here:-)

Germanics were always buried with a comb, a razor and soap.
That speaks for hygiene too.They, as the celts weren't either the dirty barbarians some people tried to make us believe.
They were extremely fond of their hair - the only sideback was that many warriors smeared butter in their hair to hold it back - a slightly disturbing smell in the sun:-)

b.t.w. the hair of germanic women was on the average more expensive in rome as a armenian slave.

**the_handsome_viking** · 08-09-2005, 18:18

Originally Posted by Wazikashi

Did the Women?

Most ancient historians and Anthropologists left women out of their observations for the most part, unless they did something that was extremely noticeable... but seriously, do you know if Women did the same thing as the men... I'd hope so... it would make barbarian life back then just that much more enjoyable

id like to believe the women did too.

for obvious reasons.

**Ranika** · 08-07-2005, 21:35

Not all Celts built round houses; it depended on the period and region. The inhabitants of Britain built round houses, as well as the more Celtic inhabitants of Iberia, but others built mostly square houses; their basic town would be constructed on a hill, with a mound wall, and square houses arranged around the local chief's house. Germans, to my understanding, built a lot of lean structures; buildings adjacent to walls, and I believe rectangular buildings as well.