Summarized classification scheme for the functional interpretation of archaeological surface remains of Greenland Norse architecture, which is applied to the individual ruins of marine shielings in present study. In addition to describing the type and original built of building walls, the table outlines the surface appearance of ruins and basic functional characteristics of each wall and building-material types.
| Wall type and build | Wall/building material type description | Ruin surface appearance in the field | Functional properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1: Turf wall (and roofing) | Wall built of turf blocks, directly on the ground or, more commonly, on a single- or double row stone foundation of one or a couple of courses, often with some soil/rubble/turf filling. Wall width(s) normally >0.80 m. | Well preserved: grassy banks tracing the original feature wall lines; or, where the turf has disintegrated, as a distinct stone foundation of one or a couple of courses, and with no surrounding collapse stone. Collapsed: grassy, uneven(farm) mounds or low hummocks. No or very few visible collapse stone. | Heat insulating, water, wind, and moisture impermeable. Built for cold-period (or year-round) human and animal habitation. |
| Type 2: Turf/stone wall | Wall built in relatively regular, alternating layers of turf blocks and stones, raised on (rarely) single- or (often) double row stone foundation of one or a couple of courses. Wall width(s) normally ~0.6–1.0 m. | Well preserved: easily traceable walls of stones set in turf and often preserved in several courses. Collapsed: indistinct stone wall lines, sporadically standing a few courses high,and raised on single- or double-row stone foundations; or as grassy (farm) mounds or low hummocks many protruding stones. Considerable amounts of visible collapse stone. | Turf is economical and stable, but less heat insulating and water, wind, and moisture impermeable than Type 1 walls. Built for seasonal warm-period human and year-round animal habitation. |
| Type 3: Dry-stone walls | Can be separated on following subtypes: | ||
| 3a. Freestanding single-skin dry-stone wall | Dry-stone walls built in often somewhat irregular courses/layers, at times with thin interlaying turf mats and turf wall superstructure, either directly on the ground or on a single row stone foundation. Wall width(s) normally 0.5–8.0 m. | Well preserved: distinct stone walls, often including natural boulders or cliffs, and preserved in several, often irregular, courses. Collapsed: indistinct, but identifiable walls of collapse stone, most sliding or tumbling down the stones, boulders or cliffs in the foundation. Some to considerable amounts of visible collapse stone. | Expediently and easily procured building materials, partly sheltering, but heat draining. Used in pens, dikes, and other freestanding enclosure walls (e.g., pens, rock shelters, etc.). |
| 3b. Dry-stone wall facing | Dry-stone wall built in mostly regular courses/layers with no adhesive or, alternatively, with thin interlaying turf mats, against and to support/protect the interior or/and exterior of a turf wall (Type 1 or 2). Wall width(s) normally ~0.4–6.0 m. | Well preserved: distinctstone walls in several regular courses lining a Type 1 or 2 turf wall. Collapsed: more or less indistinct stone wall lines leaning against turfy banks, sporadically standing a few courses high, and inward/outward sliding collapse stone.Considerable visible collapse stone, most on one side of turf bank. | Expediently and easily procured building materials, wind- and water protective and durable. Built for protection of insulating turf walls (i.e., increased stability and durability of human and animal habitation buildings). |
| 3c. Roof-supporting dry-stone double-skin wall (double dike) | Dry-stone double-skin wall built mostly in regular courses/layers with no adhesive, and at least one of the following traits: i) alternating thicker and thinner courses; ii) larger stones in the lower courses; iii) heavy foundation and, especially, corner stones; iv) stone wedges/pinning to level uneven stones in the courses; v) hearting with small to medium sized stones Wall width(s) normally ~0.8–1.0 m. | Well preserved: distinctdouble-skin walls standing almost intact (see description) with few surrounding collapse stone. Collapsed: faintly observable double-row wall foundations or lines standing up to a few stone courses high and surrounded by great amounts of collapse stone. | Expediently and easily procured building materials, ventilated and cool, highly stable and durable. Built for airdrying and storage. Occasionally used in freestanding boundaries or enclosure walls. |
| 3d. Roof-supporting drystone double-skin wall with (double dike) fill or hearting | Dry-stone walls with all the elements of Type 3c, but with fill/hearting of the double-skin wall with small stones and rubble, occasionally some turf lumps, soil or gravel. Wall width(s) normally ~0.8–1.2 m. | Well preserved: distinctdouble-skin walls standing almost intact (see description). Collapsed: faintly observable double-row wall foundations or lines standing up to a few stone courses highand surrounded by great amounts of collapse stone. | Expediently and easily procured building materials, somewhat ventilated and water impermeable, cool, highly stable and durable. Built for storage. |
| 3e. Protective dry-stone (and turf) wall with fill or hearting | Similar to Type 3d or with alternating courses of stone and thinner turf mats. Occasionally built to the height of the inner, roof-supporting wall, but more often with a superstructure of pure turf wall (Type 1). | Same as Type 3d, but with considerably less collapse stone, often spilling outwards from the building. | Built as a weather protective, water- and wind-impermeable casing of/shell for a wooden inner structure/building. |
| 4: Wooden wall | Wooden wall raised on single row dry-stone foundation/sill. Wall width(s) normally 0.3–0.5 m. | Visible as single row dry-stone foundations with no surrounding collapse stones. | Ventilated. Built for airdrying and storage. |