DK Eyewitness Books - Viking

39

FLOUR POWER

Grain was ground into flour

with a quern stone. This one

comes from a Viking farm at

Ribblehead in Yorkshire, England. The

grain was placed on the bottom stone. Then the

top stone was laid on it and the wooden handle

was turned around. Rich Vikings preferred finer flour, ground with

querns made of lava imported from the Rhineland in Germany.

Top stone

Bottom stone

GRAINS

Spelt is an

early form of

wheat. The

Vikings also

grew barley

and rye.

Ears and grains

of spelt wheat

Ground wheat

LONGHORN COW

Cattle like this were once farmed in many

parts of the Viking world. Now new breeds

have been developed, and longhorn cattle

survive on only a few special farms.

Domestic animals weren’t just raised for

their meat and milk. Cattle hide, sheep’s

wool, and poultry feathers were also used to

make clothes and bedding. Cattle horns are

hollow and made ideal drinking horns.

These were tricky to put down, however, and

had to be rested in special holders. Animal

bones were carved into knife handles,

combs, pins, needles, and even jewelry.