Interior of a Lenape Barkhouse - This
illustration shows a Lenape
family inside their barkhouse. A fire for cooking and to provide warmth
is burning in a pit in the center of the floor. Decorative mats affixed to
the walls offered a measure of insulation. Smoke escaped
through openings in the roof which could be covered in time
of rain. Braided ears of corn and herbs were hung from the
ceiling, and dried foods were stored below sleeping
platforms and on shelves over beds. Firewood was usually
stored in a compartment at the end of the house to keep it
dry and ready for use. Large storage pits were also dug
into the earth at the ends of such houses to provide
additional food storage, especially in winter when outside
storage pits might be snowed over.
|
Place your tribe on the World Wide Web. This space is available at reasonable rates to all Native American Tribes. Call (405)372-7704 for details. |