The Indians had two types of dwellings that distinguished them from other peoples - a tipi and a wigwam. They have features peculiar to the people who used them. They are also adapted to the typical activities of humans and the environment.
To each according to his needs
The houses of nomads and settled tribes are different. The former prefer tents and huts, while the latter prefer stationary buildings or semi-dugouts. If we talk about the dwellings of hunters, then one could often see the skins of animals on them. North American Indians are a people who were characterized by a large number of varieties of houses. Each group had its own.
For example, the Navajo preferred semi-dugouts. They created an adobe roof and a corridor called "hogan" through which one could enter inside. Former residents of Florida built pile huts, and for nomadic tribes from the Subarctic, the most convenient was the wigwam. In the cold season, he was covered with a skin, and inwarm - birch bark.
Scale and strength
The Iroquois built a frame out of tree bark that could last up to 15 years. Usually during such a period the community lived near the selected fields. When the land wore out, there was a resettlement. These buildings were quite high. They could reach 8 meters in height, from 6 to 10 meters wide, and sometimes they were 60 meters or more in length. In this regard, such dwellings were nicknamed long houses. The entrance here was located in the end part. Nearby was a picture depicting the totem of the clan, the animal that patronized and protected it. The dwelling of the Indians was divided into several compartments, in each there lived a couple forming a family. Everyone had their own hearth. There were bunks against the walls for sleeping.
Settled and nomadic settlements
Pueblo tribes built fortified houses out of stones and bricks. The courtyard was surrounded by a semicircle or circle of buildings. The Indian people built entire terraces on which houses could be built in several tiers. The roof of one dwelling became a platform outside for another, located above.
People who chose forests for life built wigwams. This is a portable Indian dwelling in the shape of a dome. It differed in small size. The height, as a rule, did not exceed 10 feet, however, up to thirty inhabitants were placed inside. Now such buildings are used for ritual purposes. It is very important not to confuse them with teepee. For nomads, such a design was quite convenient, since they did not have to put much effort into construction. And alwaysit was possible to move the house to a new territory.
Design Features
During the construction, trunks were used that bend well and were quite thin. To bind them, they used elm or birch bark, mats made from reeds or reeds. Corn leaves and grass were also suitable. The nomad's wigwam was covered with cloth or skin. To prevent them from slipping, they used a frame on the outside, trunks or poles. The entrance was covered with a curtain. The walls were inclined and vertical. The layout is round or rectangular. To expand the building, it was pulled into an oval, making several holes for smoke to escape. The pyramidal form is characterized by the installation of even poles that bind at the top.
Similar model
The dwelling of the Indians, similar to a tent, was called a tipi. He had poles, from which the skeleton of a conical shape was obtained. The skins of bison were used to form the tire. The hole at the top was designed specifically for the smoke from the fire to go out into the street. During the rain it was covered with a blade. The walls were decorated with drawings and signs that meant belonging to one or another owner. Tipi really resembles a wigwam in many ways, which is why they are often confused. This type of building was also used by the Indian people quite often both in the North and in the Southwest and the Far West traditionally for nomadic purposes.
Dimensions
They were also constructed in a pyramidal or cone shape. The diameter of the base was up to 6 meters. Forming poles reached25 feet long. The cover was made from rawhide. On average, from 10 to 40 animals had to be killed to create a cover. When the North American Indians began to interact with the Europeans, a trade exchange began. They had canvas, which was more light. Both leather and fabric have their drawbacks, so combined products were often created. Wooden pins were used as fasteners; from below, the coating was tied with ropes to pegs sticking out of the ground. A gap was left especially for the movement of air. Like the wigwam, there was a smoke outlet.
Useful Devices
The distinguishing feature is that there were valves that regulate the air draft. To stretch them to the lower corners, leather straps were used. This dwelling of the Indians was quite comfortable. It was possible to attach a tent or another similar building to it, which significantly expanded the internal area. From a strong wind, a belt descending from above, which served as an anchor, protected. A lining was laid out at the bottom of the walls, which had a width of up to 1.7 m. It retained internal heat, protecting people from external cold. When it rained, they pulled up a semicircular ceiling, which was called "ozan".
Exploring the buildings of different tribes, you can see that each of them is distinguished by some of its own, unique feature. The number of poles is not the same. They connect differently. The pyramid formed by them can be both inclined and straight. At the base there is an ovoid, round or oval shape. Tirecut in a variety of ways.
Other popular types of buildings
Another interesting dwelling of the Indians is a wikiap, which is also often identified with a wigwam. The building in the form of a dome is a hut in which mainly Apaches lived. It was covered with pieces of cloth and grass. They were often used for temporary purposes to hide. Covered with branches, mats, set on the outskirts of the steppe. The Athabaskans, who inhabited Canada, preferred this type of construction. She was perfect when the army advanced to battle and needed a temporary place of residence to hide themselves and hide the fire.
Navajos settled in hogans. And also in summer-type houses and dugouts. Hogan has a round section, the walls form a cone. Often there are square designs of this type. The door was located in the eastern part: it was believed that the sun brings good luck into the house through it. The building also has a great cult significance. There is a legend that tells that the hogan was first built by a spirit in the form of a coyote. The beavers helped him. They were engaged in construction in order to provide housing for the first people. In the middle of the five-pointed pyramid was a fork pole. The faces had three corners. The space between the beams was filled with earth. The walls were so dense and strong that they could effectively protect people from the winter weather.
Front was the vestibule where religious ceremonies were held. Residential buildings were large. In the 20th century, the Navajo began to build buildingswith 6 and 8 corners. This is due to the fact that at that time the railway functioned not far from them. It was possible to get sleepers and use them in construction. There was more space and space, despite the fact that the house stood quite firmly. In a word, the habitats of the Indians are quite diverse, but each of them performed the functions assigned to it.
