Similarly, drawing upon information as diverse as loom weights dug up at archeological sites and paintings on Greek vases, weavers at Lejre have reconstructed an upright prehistoric loom and have used it to reproduce woolen Iron Age clothing.

Volunteers wear robes of homespun identical to ancient garments. Replicas of ancient fabrics have resulted from years of research, involving microscopic study o f Iron Age textiles and the breeding o f special sheep to produce the proper kind o f wool. Leyre researchers spend long hours spinning thread to the right coarseness and strength and adjusting the loom so that the length and number of threads correspond to those in the original cloth

Researchers have also experimented with animals. During part of one winter, they shared one of the houses with the livestock, a common practice in prehistoric times, based on horse and cattle bones found in charred house ruins. As the researchers learned, the animals' body heat helped to make the chilly house livable. Careful breeding experiments insured that the animals used were similar to those of now-extinct breeds. Researchers produced a hairy pig--hardy, quick and well adapted to living in the forest as its ancestors were--by breeding farm pigs with wild boars. And

when turned loose in the Spring, they carefully observed the animals to see what impact they had on the vegetation of nearby pastures and forests.

Throughout the long, dark months of the Scandinavian Iron Age winter, the hearth fire was the center of activity. Huddled close to its meager warmth, women worked at their weaving, did

the cooking and ground the grain, while the men prepared their farm tools for spring use, or their weapons for an occasional morning's hunt.

Skins of oxen and horses suspended over the fire helped keep flying sparks from reaching the dry roof thatch. There was no chimney hole, which would have permitted rain and snow to enter. Instead Iron Age home builders placed air holes under the apex of the roof at either end of the house. The cross draft carried the hearth smoke from one end of the dwelling, through the loft and out the other opening. This also helped to draw the warmth of the livestock into the living area.

Leyre stands as a monument to scientific exploration. It's only through such experiments that man can learn how his ancient ancestors lived.

To read more articles by Bob Brooke, please visit his Web site.

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