Longhouse

Last updated
A North American Pacific Northwest Coast-style longhouse at the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia Moa-4.jpg
A North American Pacific Northwest Coast-style longhouse at the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia

A longhouse or long house is a type of long, proportionately narrow, single-room building for communal dwelling. It has been built in various parts of the world including Asia, Europe, and North America.

Contents

Many were built from timber and often represent the earliest form of permanent structure in many cultures. Types include the Neolithic long house of Europe, the Norman Medieval Longhouses that evolved in Western Britain (Tŷ Hir) and Northern France ( Longère ), and the various types of longhouse built by different cultures among the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

Europe

A reconstructed Viking chieftain's longhouse at the Lofotr Viking Museum in Lofoten, Norway Borg Vestvagoy LC0165.jpg
A reconstructed Viking chieftain's longhouse at the Lofotr Viking Museum in Lofoten, Norway
Reconstructed Viking longhouse in Ale, north of Gothenburg, Sweden Viking house Ale Sweden.jpg
Reconstructed Viking longhouse in Ale, north of Gothenburg, Sweden

Some of the medieval longhouse types of Europe that have survived are:

Dartmoor granite longhouse Sanders, Lettaford - geograph.org.uk - 134003.jpg
Dartmoor granite longhouse

Medieval development of the Germanic longhouse

Further developments of the Germanic longhouse during the Middle Ages were the Low German house in northern and especially northwestern Germany and its northern neighbour, the Geestharden house in Jutland including Schleswig, with its variant, the Frisian house. With these house types the wooden posts originally rammed into the ground were replaced by posts supported on a base. The large and well-supported attic enabled large quantities of hay or grain to be stored in dry conditions. This development may have been driven because the weather became wetter over time. Good examples of these houses have been preserved, some dating back to the 16th century. The longhouse was 50 to 60 feet long.[ citation needed ]

Americas

In North America two groups of longhouses emerged: the Native American/First Nations longhouse of the tribes usually connected with the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) in the northeast, and a similarly shaped structure which arose independently among the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast.

Interior of a Salish longhouse, British Columbia, 1864. Watercolour by Edward M. Richardson (1810-1874) Interior of a Salish Longhouse, British Columbia, 1864.jpg
Interior of a Salish longhouse, British Columbia, 1864. Watercolour by Edward M. Richardson (1810–1874)

The longhouses inhabited by the Iroquois were wood boards/bark-covered structures of standardized design "in the shape of an arbor" about 6 to 7 metres (20 to 23 ft) wide providing shelter for several related families. The longhouse had a 3-metre-wide (9.8 ft) central aisle and 2-metre-wide (6.6 ft) compartments, about 6 to 7 metres (20 to 23 ft) long, down each side. The end compartments were usually used for storage. Hearths were spaced about 6 to 7 metres (20 to 23 ft) apart down the aisle, with smoke holes in the roof. Two families shared each hearth. Each longhouse would house several generations of an extended family; a house was built proportionately to the number of families it was expected to contain and might be lengthened over time to accommodate growth. [12] It is possible to infer the population of an Iroquois town from the sizes and number of longhouses it contained.

In South America, the Tucano people of Colombia and northwest Brazil traditionally combine a household in a single long house. The Xingu peoples of central Brazil build a series of longhouses in circular formations forming round villages. The ancient Tupi people of the Brazilian coast used to do this as well. The Yanomami people of Brazil and Venezuela build a round hut with a thatched roof that has a hole in the middle, called shabono, which could be considered a sort of longhouse.

Asia

Korea

In Daepyeong, an archaeological site of the Mumun pottery period in Korea, longhouses have been found that date to circa 1100–850 BC. Their layout seems to be similar to those of the Iroquois. In these, several fireplaces were arranged along the longitudinal axis of the building. Later, the ancient Koreans started raising their buildings on stilts, so that the inner partitions and arrangements are somewhat obscure. The size of the buildings and their placement within the settlements may point to buildings for the nobles of their society or some sort of community or religious buildings. In Igeum-dong, an excavation site in South Korea, the large longhouses, 29 and 26 metres long, are situated between the megalithic cemetery and the rest of the settlement.

Taiwan

The longhouse may be an old building tradition among the people of Austronesian origin or intensive contact.[ citation needed ] The Austronesian language group seems to have spread to southeast Asia and the Pacific islands as well as Madagascar from the island of Taiwan. Groups like the Siraya of ancient Taiwan built longhouses and practiced head hunting, as did, for example the later Dayaks of Borneo.

Borneo

A modern timber longhouse at Sungai Asap, Belaga, Sarawak. Uma Daro in Sungai Asap, Sarawak.jpg
A modern timber longhouse at Sungai Asap, Belaga, Sarawak.

Many of the inhabitants of the Southeast Asian island of Borneo (now Indonesian Kalimantan, East Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam), the Dayak, live traditionally in buildings known as Lamin House or longhouses: rumah betang in Indonesia (specifically the western parts of Borneo) and rumah panjang in Malay. Common to most of these is that they are built raised off the ground on stilts and are divided into a more or less public area along one side and a row of private living quarters lined along the other side. This seems to have been the way of building best accustomed to life in the jungle in the past, as otherwise hardly related people have come to build their dwellings in similar ways. One may observe similarities to South American jungle villages also living in large single structures. They are raised and built over a hill, flooding presents little inconvenience and the height acts as defence against enemy attacks. Some longhouses are quite large; up to 1152m. [13] The entire architecture is designed and built as a standing tree with branches to the right and left with the front part facing the sunrise while the back faces the sunset. The longhouse building acts as the normal accommodation and a house of worship for religious activities. The entry could double as a canoe dock. Cooling air could circulate underneath the raised floor of the dwelling, and the elevated living areas were more likely to catch above-ground breezes. Livestock could shelter underneath the longhouses for greater protection from predators and the elements. In fact, chickens coops were hung from the main room structure for easy feeding.

Old longhouses in Asia were made of tree trunks as structure members, long leaves as the roof cover, split bamboo or small tree trunks as the flooring and tree bark as the wall coverings. In the past, longhouses were primarily made out of timber sourced from trees such as Eusideroxylon zwageri (Bornean ironwood) so the longhouses were able to stand firm and durable. In modern times many of the older longhouses have been replaced with buildings using more modern materials, like brick or cement, but of similar design.

Many place names in Borneo have "Long" in their name (which means river) and most of these are or once were longhouses.

Siberut

An uma, the traditional communal house of the Sakuddei on the island of Siberut, part of the Mentawai Islands Mentawai Uma.jpg
An uma, the traditional communal house of the Sakuddei on the island of Siberut, part of the Mentawai Islands

A traditional house type of the Sakuddei people, [14] on the island of Siberut, part of the Mentawai Islands some 130 kilometres (81 mi) to the west off the coast of Sumatra (Sumatera), Indonesia is also described as a longhouse on stilts. Some five to ten families may live in each, but they are organized differently inside from those on Borneo. From front to back, such a house, called an "uma", regularly consists of an open platform serving as the main entrance place, followed by a covered gallery. The inside is divided into two rooms, one behind the other. On the back there is another platform. The whole building is raised on short stilts about half a metre off the ground. The front platform is used for general activities while the covered gallery is the favorite place for the men to host guests, and where the men usually sleep. The following first room is entered by a door and contains a central communal hearth and a place for dancing. There are also places for religious and ritual objects and activities. In the adjoining room the women and their small children as well as unmarried daughters sleep, usually in compartments divided into families. The platform on the back is used by the women for their everyday activities. Visiting women usually enter the house here.

Vietnam

A Mnong longhouse in the Central Highlands of Vietnam MnongLonghouse.jpg
A Mnong longhouse in the Central Highlands of Vietnam

The Mnong and Rade of Vietnam also have a tradition of building longhouses (Vietnamese : nhà dài) that may be 30 to 40 metres (98 to 131 ft) long. [15] In contrast to the jungle versions of Borneo these sport shorter stilts and seem to use a veranda in front of a short (gable) side as main entrance.

Nepal

The Rana Tharu is an ethnic group indigenous to the western Terai of Nepal. Most of them prefer living in longhouses called Badaghar with big families of many generations, sometimes 40–50 people. All household members pool their labor force, contribute their income, share the expenditure and use one kitchen. [16] Traditionally, their houses are built entirely using natural materials such as reed poles for walls and thatch for roofing. [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vernacular architecture</span> Architecture based on local needs, materials, traditions

Vernacular architecture is building done outside any academic tradition, and without professional guidance. It is not a particular architectural movement or style, but rather a broad category, encompassing a wide range and variety of building types, with differing methods of construction, from around the world, both historical and extant and classical and modern. Vernacular architecture constitutes 95% of the world's built environment, as estimated in 1995 by Amos Rapoport, as measured against the small percentage of new buildings every year designed by architects and built by engineers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iban people</span> Ethnic group from Borneo

The Ibans or Sea Dayaks are an Austronesian ethnic group indigenous to northwestern Borneo. The Ibans are also known as Sea Dayaks and the title Dayak was given by the British and the Dutch to various ethnic groups in Borneo island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kayan people (Borneo)</span> Ethnic group in Southeast Asia

Being an indigenous tribe in Borneo, the Kayan people are similar to their neighbours, the Kenyah tribe, with which they are grouped together with the Bahau people under the Apo Kayan people group. The Kayan people are categorised as a part of the Dayak people. They are distinct from, and not to be confused with, the Kayan people of Myanmar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malay house</span>

Malay houses refer to the vernacular dwellings of the Malays, an ethno-linguistic group inhabiting Sumatra, coastal Borneo and the Malay Peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gawai Dayak</span> Harvest festival in Malaysia

Gawai Dayak is an annual festival and a public holiday celebrated by the Dayak people in Sarawak, Malaysia on 1 and 2 June. Sarawak Day is now celebrated on July 22 every year. Gawai Dayak was conceived of by the radio producers Tan Kingsley and Owen Liang and then taken up by the Dayak community. The British colonial government refused to recognise Dayak Day until 1962. They called it Sarawak Day for the inclusion of all Sarawakians as a national day, regardless of ethnic origin. It is both a religious and a social occasion recognised since 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punan Bah</span> Ethnic group from Borneo

Punan Bah or Punan is an ethnic group found in Sarawak, Malaysia and in Kalimantan, Indonesia. The Punan Bah people are distinct and unrelated to the semi-nomadic Penan people. Their name stems from two rivers along the banks of which they have been living since time immemorial. They have other names including Mikuang Bungulan or Mikuang and Aveang Buan but those are used only ritually nowadays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kapit</span> Town and district capital in Sarawak, Malaysia

Kapit is a town and the capital of Kapit District in Kapit Division, Sarawak, Malaysia on the south bank of the Rajang River. The district comprises 15,595.6 square kilometres and as of 2020, it has a population of 65,800.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lundu, Sarawak</span> Town and district capital in Sarawak, Malaysia

Lundu is a town and the capital of Lundu District located in the northwest of Kuching Division of Sarawak, Malaysia, and borders the Indonesian Province of West Kalimantan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orang Ulu</span> Group of Dayak peoples of Sarawak

Orang Ulu is an ethnic designation politically coined to group together roughly 27 very small but ethnically diverse tribal groups in northeastern Sarawak, Malaysia with populations ranging from less than 300 persons to over 25,000 persons. Orang Ulu is not a legal term, and no such racial group exists or is listed in the Malaysian Constitution. The term was popularised by the Orang Ulu National Association (OUNA), which was formed in 1969. Orang Ulu is totaling 180 000 people which is 6.2% from 2.8millions of Sarawak people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Indonesia</span> Overview of the architecture in Indonesia

The architecture of Indonesia reflects the diversity of cultural, historical, and geographic influences that have shaped Indonesia as a whole. Invaders, colonizers, missionaries, merchants, and traders brought cultural changes that had a profound effect on building styles and techniques.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Malaysia</span> Architectural landscape of Malaysia

Architecture in Malaysia traditionally consist of malay vernacular architecture. Though modern contemporary architecture is prevalent in urban areas there are style influences from Islamic, colonial architecture, chinese straits etc. New materials, such as glasses and nails, were brought in by Europeans, changing the architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marudi</span> Town in Sarawak

Marudi is a town in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, and is a part of the division of Miri. It is the seat of Marudi District, and is located on the banks of Baram River, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) upstream from the river mouth. Marudi was the administrative centre of the northern region of Sarawak before Miri was established in 1910. Marudi is considered as the cultural heart of the Orang Ulu, the highland tribes of Sarawak. It is also a transit gateway to Kelabit Highlands and Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenyah people</span> Indigenous people of Borneo

The Kenyah people are an indigenous, Austronesian-speaking people of Borneo, living in interior North and East Kalimantan, Indonesia and Sarawak, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mukim Melilas</span> Mukim of Brunei

Mukim Melilas is a mukim in Belait District, Brunei. The population was 29 in 2016, the least populous mukim in all of Brunei. It is considered the final and most isolated settlement in Belait, and maybe all of Brunei.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batak architecture</span> Architectural traditions and designs of the various Batak peoples of North Sumatra, Indonesia

Batak architecture refers to the related architectural traditions and designs of the various Batak peoples of North Sumatra, Indonesia. Six groups of Batak speak separate but related languages: the Angkola, the Mandailing to the south, the Toba, to the north the Pakpak/Dairi, the Simalungun, and the Karo. While the groups are now Muslim or Christian, elements of the ancient Batak religion remain, particularly amongst the Karo.

Long Laput is a settlement in the rural interior of the Marudi district of Sarawak, Malaysia. It lies approximately 514.3 kilometres (320 mi) east-north-east of the state capital Kuching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rumah adat</span> Traditional Indonesian houses

Rumah adat are traditional houses built in any of the vernacular architecture styles of Indonesia, collectively belonging to the Austronesian architecture. The traditional houses and settlements of the several hundreds ethnic groups of Indonesia are extremely varied and all have their own specific history. It is the Indonesian variants of the whole Austronesian architecture found all over places where Austronesian people inhabited from the Pacific to Madagascar each having their own history, culture and style.

Sarawak's population is very diverse, comprising many races and ethnic groups. Sarawak has more than 40 sub-ethnic groups, each with its own distinct language, culture and lifestyle. This makes Sarawak demography very distinct and unique compared to its Peninsular counterpart. However, it largely mirrors to other territories in Borneo - Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stilts (architecture)</span> Poles, posts or pillars that raise a structure above ground or water level

Stilts are poles, posts or pillars used to allow a structure or building to stand at a distance above the ground or water. In flood plains, and on beaches or unstable ground, buildings are often constructed on stilts to protect them from damage by water, waves or shifting soil or sand. As these issues were commonly faced by many societies around the world, stilts have become synonymous with various places and cultures, particularly in South East Asia and Venice.

Sarawak exhibits notable diversity in ethnicity, culture, and language. The Sarawakian culture has been influenced by Bruneian Malays of the coastal areas. Substantial cultural influences also came from the Chinese and British cultures.

References

  1. Pollard, Elizabeth (2015). Worlds Together, Worlds Apart concise edition vol.1. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. p. 34. ISBN   9780393250930.
  2. Description of a Medieval Peasant Long-house Archived 2023-07-14 at the Wayback Machine at the English Heritage website.
  3. "Flying Past – The Historic Environment of Cornwall: The Medieval Countryside". www.historic-cornwall.org.uk. Archived from the original on 15 May 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  4. The Dartmoor Longhouse Poster (pdf) Archived 2012-05-29 at the Wayback Machine See also The Welsh House, A Study In Folk Culture, Y Cymmrodor XLVII, London 1940, Iorwerth C Peate
  5. "Cruck Database". Archaeology Data Service. Archived from the original on 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  6. "Listed Buildings Map". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  7. Harrison, Rev. William (1577). A Description of England.
  8. Chinnery, Victor (1979). Oak Furniture – The British Tradition. Antique Collectors' Club.
  9. Longhouse in Cumbria Archived 2011-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Blackhouse in Scotland". Archived from the original on December 31, 2009.
  11. L'Architecture Vernaculaire de la France Archived 2009-03-11 at the Wayback Machine by Christian Lassure, with a translation in English here Archived 2008-11-16 at the Wayback Machine .
  12. Snow, Dean (1995). Mohawk Valley Archaeology: The Sites (PDF). Matson Museum of Archaeology, Penn State University. ISBN   0-9647913-0-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 14, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  13. "Discovering Sarawak's Kayan tribe through a 'secret' harvest festival". June 3, 2019. Archived from the original on October 6, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  14. As described by Reimar Schefold, Speelgoed voor de zielen: Kunst en cultuur van de Mentawai-eilanden. Delft/Zürich: Volkenkundig Museum Nusantara/Museum Rietberg.(1979/80) and others.
  15. Vietnamese description of the Nhà dài of the Ê Đê Archived May 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  16. Lam, L.M. (2009) Park, hill migration and changes in household livelihood systems of Rana Tharus in Far-western Nepal. University of Adelaide full text as pdf Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  17. Auty, R.M., Brown, K. (eds.) (1997) Approaches to sustainable development. Pinter, London and Washington. ISBN   1-85567-439-4

Bibliography

For the longhouses in Sarawak on Borneo, these books were used as sources, among others:

Further reading