Tilanriih

Tilanriih is a Finnish term that refers to a type of agricultural building historically used for threshing grain. These structures were essential for separating the edible grain from the straw and chaff. Typically, tilanriih were long, narrow buildings with a central threshing floor, often made of packed earth or stone. The grain would be spread on this floor, and workers or animals would then tread on it or beat it with flails to loosen the kernels. Access to the building was usually through large doors at either end, allowing for ventilation and the removal of threshed material. Over time, as agricultural technology advanced, the tilanriih gradually fell out of common use, replaced by more efficient mechanical threshing machines. While many have fallen into disrepair, some well-preserved examples can still be found in rural Finnish landscapes, serving as reminders of traditional farming practices and the importance of grain cultivation in the past. Their construction often utilized local materials like timber and stone, reflecting the regional building traditions of their time.