According to Archaeology, these temples to the Norse gods were impressive structures used by wealthy families in the region. The four-story wood structure would have towered over the landscape, and included a massive cooking pit that was filled with animal bones. Other oddities found at the site include a large white stone that could have been used during fertility rituals. Later god houses would also include tall towers protruding through the roof, influenced by the basilicas of Britain and Western Europe.
The interior of the temple would have been filled with wooden figurines that represented the major gods of Norse mythology, like Odin, Thor, and Freyr. There, worshipers could place offerings like meat, drink, and even gold (via Livescience). Though the god houses and similar Norse places of worship were largely influenced by the Christian churches seen by traveling Vikings, many were destroyed throughout the 11th century as Christianity came to Norway and the rest of Scandinavia. Perhaps new evidence about these ancient places of worship is still waiting to be uncovered.
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