✅ Yes, Vikings did use wooden shingles, especially in areas rich in timber like Norway and Sweden.
They were not the only roofing method (thatch was more common for ordinary farms), but shingles were indeed used for more durable or prestigious buildings.

How did the Vikings make and use shingles?

➤ Materials

• They used pine or spruce, common in Scandinavia, which splits well along the grain.
• The wood was usually air dried, sometimes lightly seasoned by storage.

➤ Shaping

• Vikings split shingles (rived them) using axes or froes, rather than sawing.
  • Splitting follows the wood’s natural grain, making shingles stronger and less prone to warping.
• Shingles were typically thin, tapered, and around 30-60 cm (1-2 feet) long, depending on the building.

➤ Installation

• They were laid in overlapping rows, each course covering the top of the one below it to shed rain and snow.
• Vikings would fix them with wooden pegs or iron nails.
• Roofs were built steep to help snow slide off, which worked well with shingle construction.

Where do we see evidence of this?

• Archaeology: Traces of wooden shingle roofs have been found at Norse sites in Norway and Sweden. Some post-Viking stave churches (12th century onward) still use nearly identical techniques that evolved directly from Viking-age practices.
• Saga & law texts: While most Viking-era writings don’t give explicit blueprints, later medieval Scandinavian laws do mention shingle roofs, implying a long tradition.
• Living tradition: In parts of Norway, wooden shingle craftsmanship is still practiced in much the same way, with strong links back to Viking wood-working culture.

Summary

So yes: the Vikings used wooden shingles.
They made them by splitting timber along the grain, shaping them into thin tapered tiles, and laying them in overlapping rows on steep roofs, secured with wooden pegs or nails. While thatch was more common for everyday farmsteads, wooden shingles were a respected choice for halls, wealthier homesteads, and later for churches — a direct continuation of Viking building traditions.