what would happen when it rains?
would it be turning into an indoor swimming pool?

Good point! Supposedly the roof is watertight if maintained. But if it drains in to the pit, or the water table rises you'd have problems. Presumably the Saxons knew where to build

we actually still use a similar technique when we use wood shingles as a roofing material here in canada and it's still considered one of the best way to do it (can last about 50 years) but it's a bit expensive.

@WOODLANDSTV
It would be best to have drainage trenches at both sides to carry rain water away from the structure. It used to be common to dig trenches around a tent when out camping. Nowadays, you're not supposed to leave any traces, so digging trenches isn't thought well of any more.

Do you have any evidence that the Saxons used pegs to hold the shingles in place? It seems rather insecure, but you said yours have been in place for 10 years. That's pretty good.

wouldn't it be quite cold, since the cold air would pool in the bottom?

@5tonyvvvv I am thinking of buying some land and putting up a Tee Pee. Just not sure about toilet? and I would like AC, here in TX. I want to live like a spoiled Indian.

@chrisdeli7158 The Anglo Saxon period was from 410 AD to 1066. Ian in the film mentions this reconstruction was based on remains found from the 6th or 7th century. Hope that helps and thanks for watching WoodlandsTV

I wonder if a possible reason for starting with a pit was to acquire a natural form of insulation. For example, here in Canada we have to build down to at least 4 ft. before getting to ground that won't freeze in winter … effectively, where the temperature is "neutral". Presumably, in Britain, the depth would be a bit less, but still the same idea.
Please feel free to say that I'm dreaming awake if my thinking is completely off base ;-).

0 dislikes and almost 16,000 views…nice 🙂

@DesmondPK Thanks for pointing that out. I hope you were one of the likes!