Because this building is relatively simple, there are a limited number of types of joints. These include: housed mortice and tenon,
cog, dovetail, slip joint, dovetail, bridle joint, rafter to top plate knotch, and tie beam joint. Most of the joints mentioned work best
where the main stress to the joint is compressive or shear. Most timber frame joinery doesn't hold up well to a tensile (pulling) load.
In "tie beams" (the 3x5's that run horizontally from front to back of this frame) the load is at least 50% tensile. A relatively good joint for this
is a 1/2 dovetail. The 1/2 dovetailed tenon is placed in the mortice and then wedged into place and pegged. The added friction of the
1/2 dovetail more than doubles the tensile strength of the pegs in the tenon.