Author's Warning: due to performance issues causing framerate drop, it is NOT recommended to use this mod

with Embers HD or mods that uses very high-resolution textures for fires, smoke and/or embers.

That said, if time allows there will be some performance tuneups for this mod.





This non-profit mod free to download and use.

Feature List

Free bedrolls for you and followers when spending the night at the site

Blacksmithing workstation and alchemy lab by the main overseer's hut

Cooking spit at the guards' shelter

Open fires for those using Frostfall and other similar immersion mods

You can trade with any of the resident veteran hunters hired to protect the excavation site; they do often have to hunt and sell.

Recruitable dog named Catbane; has some slightly better stats than Vigilance.

Site is protected by walls and gates, guarded by the aforementioned hunters (mind that these are high-level NPCs with perks, unlike vanilla hunters)

Future Plans

Installation

Uninstallation

Copyright Notice: this mod is released exclusively for Nexus Mods and TES Alliance. Any alteration or upload to other sites requires my permission beforehand.

This mod adds more content to the otherwise spartan and uncomfortable archaeological excavation site of Saarthal, once the first capital of Nord civilization but for a time buried and forgotten under meters of ice and snow.I've read and seen how an archaeological site is set up, both to ensure the survival of any obtained specimens/artifacts so that they eventually be transported safely to an institution for further study and preservation, as well as the well-being of the scientists and laborers who have to spend days or even months at a time trying to unearth any important finds in very hostile environments, whether in the scorching desert or teeth-chattering cold of the far north.However, looking at Saarthal, would anyone want to work there without any sort of protection, be it from the raging ice and snow? Or from hostile intruders who are interested in pillaging the site and killing anyone who stands in their way? And if you're in a bind, freezing and bleeding to death, chased by an angry snow cat, running out of food and water and much-needed potions in the middle of this wasteland, where can you go to?If you enjoy playing the game with immersion mods, this should be able to remedy the problems noted above, by turning Saarthal into a safe haven where, behind walls you can warm up, get some decent rest, cook food, trade with the resident guardian hunters (who can also protect you from a determined assassin), and even pick up a new canine companion.And as always, the mod has been checked and cleaned with TES5edit 3.11. Should be compatible with most mods, except for some mods that could potentially modify the Saarthal exterior space.This is just the first phase, as I have some ideas for further expansion, just as what I did with Old Hroldan. According to lore, Saarthal was considered the largest of all early colonies, and so why not reinforce the fact that it is indeed large in Ysgramor's day?-- beforehand, please make a hard save inside any interior (except Saarthal's dungeon), then install the mod using any mod manager.-- make a hard save in any interior (except Saarthal's dungeon), and then deactivate and uninstall this mod.