Knotching Logs To Make Buildings

Way back when, people didn't have sawn lumber to make buildings. They usually made their homes and/or outbuildings from tree logs. In order to make the logs hold together, they would knotch the ends(see photo). Usually, the weight of the logs was enough to keep them in place. However, some people would drill a hole in the knotched part of the logs and put a wood peg in the top and bottom knotch. That did the trick. The cracks between the logs were usually filled in with mud mixed with horse hair, Spanish moss, or other suitable materials. They just had to do what they could with what they had.