Prior to the "Norwegenization" movement in Norway, the Sami people lived predominantly in their traditional dwellings which were adjusted to the prevailing climate; snow and ice would prevail in winters and swampy and/or dry land in summers. The Tromso museum showcases how some of those traditional dwellings were constructed. They all are supported by a wooden skeleton the arrangement of which gives the dwelling its particular shape. There are dwellings for just a few people and then there are also longhouses for a more numerous family size. A dwelling on stilts for frequent swampy/flooded areas can also been observed.
Generally, the dwelling types of indigenous cultures are categorized into six groups which reflect the groups' occupations and societal structures. These are: 1) ephemeral or transient, 2) episodical, 3) periodic, 4) seasonal, 5) semi-permanent, and 6) permanent dwellings. The first five housing types all refer to either nomadic or semi-nomadic peoples, Only the final category refers to permanently settled, agricultural economies with agricultural surplus. In addition, the geographic sites of those dwellings reflect social developments and worldviews of its people.
It has been found that less complex societies tend to live in more disadvantaged environments such as deserts or tropical rainforests whereas permanent dwellings appear to be in the temperate areas. However, such generalizations have to be viewed with some scepticism because shifting and difficult environments will most certainly aid in the development of complex societies as is the case with the Sami. At the same time, however, the hostile environments make living conditions difficult so that a lot of energy will be put into surviving.
It is interesting to note that the Sami culture produced a myriad of different types of dwellings which reflected their respective occupations within certain geographic environments as well as their need to move within these environments.
Most likely the dwelling that is easiest and quickest to erect would be the tent-type one depicted in the upper right-hand corner. Below is a picture of such a skeleton tent, a lavuu, in reality:
Notice that the bottom of the area is snow-free; the poles get their support from the snow/ice mixture at the perimeter and then they come together in the middle where an opening is left for fire fumes to escape.
In general, the finished lavuu is constructed of reindeer hides sown together. The Tromso University Museum displayed it looking like this:
Above is the finished version of the dwelling; it is larger than those usually built 'in the field' in order to accommodate more people for demonstrating traditional living. Notice that there are wooden planks all along the perimeter (octagon-shape) with entrance door. The opening on top is open for fumes to escape and roof is steeply slanted for snow and ice to follow gravity's path.
From the inside, the outlet looks rather large as depicted on the left. The furniture consisted of tree stumps covered in reindeer fur. The dwelling was kept warm by the fireplace centered in the middle. When I was visiting we were served reindeer stew--a bland sort of stew with tubers (see photo below).
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| Tromso Museum--Traditional Sami Exhibit |
It has been found that less complex societies tend to live in more disadvantaged environments such as deserts or tropical rainforests whereas permanent dwellings appear to be in the temperate areas. However, such generalizations have to be viewed with some scepticism because shifting and difficult environments will most certainly aid in the development of complex societies as is the case with the Sami. At the same time, however, the hostile environments make living conditions difficult so that a lot of energy will be put into surviving.
(Source: Dieda: http://www.utexas.edu/courses/sami/dieda/anthro/architecture.htm)
It is interesting to note that the Sami culture produced a myriad of different types of dwellings which reflected their respective occupations within certain geographic environments as well as their need to move within these environments.
Most likely the dwelling that is easiest and quickest to erect would be the tent-type one depicted in the upper right-hand corner. Below is a picture of such a skeleton tent, a lavuu, in reality:
Notice that the bottom of the area is snow-free; the poles get their support from the snow/ice mixture at the perimeter and then they come together in the middle where an opening is left for fire fumes to escape.
In general, the finished lavuu is constructed of reindeer hides sown together. The Tromso University Museum displayed it looking like this:
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| Photo taken of a 'lavuu' at Tromso University Museum |
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| Stew |
From the inside, the outlet looks rather large as depicted on the left. The furniture consisted of tree stumps covered in reindeer fur. The dwelling was kept warm by the fireplace centered in the middle. When I was visiting we were served reindeer stew--a bland sort of stew with tubers (see photo below).
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