Earthlodges

Earthlodges. Fort Clark State Historic Site. , The earthlodge was a type of home used by many tribes on the Great Plains. Around you are the remains of earthlodges found in the village of Mih-tutta-hang-kush. There were more than eighty of these homes found on this site. Today, circular depressions on the ground indicate where lodges once stood. , How was an earthlodge constructed? , To build an earthlodge, four heavy timbers were erected in a square to provide a central frame-work. This frame-work and the walls were then covered with a layer of branches, then grass and finally a layer of earth. A covered entry was on one side, and an opening in the roof served as a smoke hole or chimney. , Other than working with the heavy timbers, most of the effort in building an earthlodge was done by women. In fact, it was the women who owned the earthlodges. , How many people lived in an earthlodge? , Depending on its size, an earthlodge could house anywhere from eight to eighteen people.