ABSTRACT
Several varying types of early medieval roof structures are found in Sweden. The different types can be divided into two major groups, which are found in two geographical regions. In southern Sweden the builders raised roof trusses with tie beams, struts and later collar beams. In northern Sweden roof trusses with passing braces and collar beams were raised instead (Sjömar & Storsletten 1993). Only four roofs of this type remain in Sweden. They have not been included in the definition of structural type below since they are a different structural type even though they are contemporary. At the same time, the roof structures from the 12th and the 13th centuries show many similarities. The tools that were used are the same, axe and draw-knife “skave” and the wood is prepared in the same way. The craftsmen used a special hewing technique, “sprättäljning”, whereby the axe cut back and forth along the side of the log, which makes a very characteristic herringbone pattern. Some surfaces are also very finely planed with the draw-knife. The different parts in a roof truss are also put together in the same way, with straight lap joints. The builders, in both northern and southern Sweden, had the same basic idea of how the wood should be treated and how a roof should be put together and raised. They seem to have belonged to the same building tradition.
