© 1994 - Tara Prindle
unless otherwise cited.
Scenes from the Eastern Woodlands
A Virtual Tour ~ Circa 1550
Where would you like to go?
Building our wigwam ... you will see the men bending flexible saplings over, and lashing them together with basswood bark, in a criss-crossing pattern to make the domed shaped frame of the houses. The saplings are sometimes birch or willow, straight and with few branches, and at least 14 feet long. The saplings are cut, trimmed and sharped on the wide end with the metal axe that the men got in trading with Europeans who recently came here. These poles are then set into holes the ground in the pattern of a circle, and spaced about two feet apart. After the arches are lashed together, three or four sapling hoops will be put around the frame for further support. When the frame is done, the wigwams will be covered with sewn cattail mats (like the wigwam in the foreground), or with heavy sheets of elm bark (like the wigwam in the background). Spaces are left for a doorway (or two) and a smoke-hole at the top of each wigwam (to let out the smoke from the central fire inside). Doors and smoke-holes had adjustable mats fastened to them so they could be covered during rain or snow. |
Scenes available as Fine Art Note Cards |
|
|
Text and Graphics
© 1994 - Tara Prindle unless otherwise cited. |