Were vikings farmers?
Many Vikings were farmers and cultivated the land. Archaeologists have discovered traces of both ploughed and harrowed fields at the Viking Age habitation at Lindholm Høje in Denmark. Found tools, such as scythes, spades and wooden ploughs, also give evidence of what the everyday life of the Vikings was like. The scythes were used for the haymaking and special leafknives were used for cutting twigs and leaves for cattlefood. Just as in our time the farmers used hoes and pitchforks when they cultivated the soil and they also let the land lie fallow now and then. Barley, rye and wheat grew in the fields and in addition there were cultivations of flax, peas, and hemp. Animals were of vital importance to the Viking Age farmers. They were needed to make it possible for the Vikings to do farming and support themselves. Out on the farms there were horses, cows, pigs, sheep and goats – chickens, dogs and cats were common too. But people who lived in the towns also kept animals – especially pig
