However, surviving beds and reconstructed bed-closets and benches are extremely confining, suggesting that Viking-age people may have slept sitting up on the benches, with their backs against the wall.
Viking Household Items
Beds were most likely lined with straw and animal skin. However, some historians believe that the Vikings actually slept sitting up with their backs against the wall given the limited and confined space that was available on the benches.
Roofs were slanted and could be thatched or wooden. In the middle of the house was an oblong fireplace – the long fireplace. Here the food was made. Along the walls there were plank beds, on which the Vikings could sit or sleep.
So in winter, they would have gone to sleep around 6pm, gone up to eat from midnight to 2am and then woken up around 8am. In summer you would have slept from midnight to 4am at most, if at all.
The mattress was thickly stuffed with down and feathers, and sheets were made of fine linen. However, the Vikings were already demonstrating their penchant for minimalist Scandinavian design with simple wooden slatted beds that could be easily loaded onto their ships for their voyages.
Additionally, it's worth noting that for most sexually transmitted diseases, a condom isn't a sure method of protection. The fact that Vikings and people in the medieval ages didn't have condoms may not have had as much of an impact on the prevalence of these diseases as some would think.
The pillow from the Mammen burial (AD 970-971). It is tabby woven of wool and was originally dyed blue. The pillow was probably not filled with feathers/downs, but with a plant material.
Vikings were known for their excellent hygiene.
Excavations of Viking sites have turned up tweezers, razors, combs and ear cleaners made from animal bones and antlers. Vikings also bathed at least once a week—much more frequently than other Europeans of their day—and enjoyed dips in natural hot springs.
According to historical records, Vikings would bathe at least once a week. This may not sound like a lot by today's standards, but it was actually quite impressive for the time period. Keep in mind that many people in medieval Europe did not bathe at all, or only did so once or twice a year.
Understanding the average lifespan of a Viking
On average, most Vikings could live to an age between 35 and 50. However, many Vikings wouldn't make it to this age. The average lifespan of a Viking was affected by numerous external factors, from the battles they fought, to the environments they had to live in.
Vikings were extremely clean and regularly bathed and groomed themselves. They were known to bathe weekly, which was more frequently than most people, particularly Europeans, at the time. Their grooming tools were often made of animal bones and included items such as combs, razors, and ear cleaners.
There was no bathroom inside, but the Vikings kept clean by washing in a wooden bucket or beside a stream. Instead of toilets, people used a cesspit, which was a hole outside dug for toilet waste.
The Vikings needed all the energy that they could get in the form of fat – especially in winter. Meat, fish, vegetables, cereals and milk products were all an important part of their diet. Sweet food was consumed in the form of berries, fruit and honey. In England the Vikings were often described as gluttonous.
The chances are Vikings were a lot leaner than many people today, thanks to their protein-rich diet, and their commitment to hard labor. However, it's likely that the comparative 'largeness' of Vikings was down to their muscular bodies and strength, rather than simply being "fat".
Years of toiling in a difficult environment gave Vikings both the muscle and endurance they needed to survive. Vikings were trained from an early age to fight and wield weapons. They were also told stories about the gods and Valhalla which helped to strengthen their cognition too.
A Viking's trousers could be worn tight or loose and were held up by a belt or by a string passed through a loop. Made from wool, trousers were also warm and could be tucked into boots or left loose.
According to scholars, Vikings commonly washed their hair and beards using a soap containing lye. This soap served two purposes. It helped to keep Vikings clean and wash away the dirt, blood, and other messes which built up during escapades. However, it also helped to dye the hair a brighter shade of blonde.
The hair and beard were of major importance to the Viking man. This can be seen in royal bynames like Sweyn Forkbeard, whose beard was probably divided in two, and Harald Fairhair, who must have had a fine head of hair. The numerous finds of combs show that people combed their hair regularly.
The average height of Vikings as found by researchers and scholars, varied depending on a number of factors, including their age and gender. Typically, the average male Viking would usually be between 5 foot 7 and 5 foot 9, while the average female would be between 5 foot 1 and 5 foot 3.
Interesting enough, according to the BBC Primary History site, there were no bathrooms in the Viking home. Most people probably washed in a wooden bucket or the nearest stream. Instead of toilets, people used cesspits, which are holes dug outside for toilet waste.
In Viking society, certain physical traits were considered attractive in both men and women. These features included light-colored eyes, fair skin, and blonde or light brown hair. A strong, healthy, and fit physique was also highly valued, as it was an indicator of good health, strength, and fertility.
Play is not a recent development in history in fact from grave goods and the sagas, we learn that Vikings played board games avidly, they carved dolls and toys for their children, played dice and gambled as well as partaking in boisterous sports at their feasts and gatherings.
No concrete evidence suggests that Viking women wore bras as we know them today. However, they did wear supportive undergarments as part of their clothing. The typical outfit for a Viking woman included linen or woolen underdress, which supported the breasts.
Like today's men and women, the Vikings dressed according to sex, age and economic status. The men preferred trousers and tunics, whilst the women dressed in strap dresses worn over undergarments. Ordinary Viking clothes were made of local materials, like wool and flax, woven by the women.
While it is believed loose, baggy clothing was considered a “feminine” fashion to the Viking Age Danes (a trend that would not be carried on by their later Icelandic descendants), this clearly was not the case in regards to trousers of this style, which were likely seen as a status symbol, if not for the financial ...