Shelter
Peering Inside the Iroquois Longhouse
The Iroquois lived in villages that were near crops. Unlike many of the other
tribes, the Iroquois did not have to move around very often, as they were
farmers mostly. They only moved every ten to twenty years, when the crops no
longer grew well, due to the soil worn out from all the use of it. As a result,
their dwellings are very settled, intended to serve as permanent accomadations,
since the soil they lived on was good for farming. In the early years, they lived
near the stream, but in the later years, they built their villages on the hilltops for
protection against other tribes who attack them. Since they had a supply of
wood from the forest, the Iroquois built palisades for their larger villages.
Palisades are a type of fence, made from three rows of tall pointed poles that
were woven together. The palisade had only one opening and had watch
towers at the top for the sentries to spot any invaders. When the smaller villages
feel threatened by attack, they then take refuge in the larger villages which are
much more protected.
tribes, the Iroquois did not have to move around very often, as they were
farmers mostly. They only moved every ten to twenty years, when the crops no
longer grew well, due to the soil worn out from all the use of it. As a result,
their dwellings are very settled, intended to serve as permanent accomadations,
since the soil they lived on was good for farming. In the early years, they lived
near the stream, but in the later years, they built their villages on the hilltops for
protection against other tribes who attack them. Since they had a supply of
wood from the forest, the Iroquois built palisades for their larger villages.
Palisades are a type of fence, made from three rows of tall pointed poles that
were woven together. The palisade had only one opening and had watch
towers at the top for the sentries to spot any invaders. When the smaller villages
feel threatened by attack, they then take refuge in the larger villages which are
much more protected.
The Iroquois lived in longhouses which were constructed of wooden poles
covered with elm bark from the forests, and sometimes tied with deer tendons.
True to its name, the longhouse is very long, and can house one clan, which
could be up to twenty families! There are two separate doors at each end
which is covered with animal hides in order to keep in the warmth. Inside the
longhouse, there are two stories, the sleeping area on the top and the
common area at floor level. Above the sleeping area, there are shelves that are
used for storing food, pots, pans and other objects. The longhouse is divided
into sections, with each section area separated by mats and screens. Four
families shared one fire, which was an important source of light, since there
were no windows in the longhouse. At the top of the longhouses, there were
smoke holes to let the smoke from the fire out. During winter, however, these
holes were covered with hide in order to keep the warmth in.
covered with elm bark from the forests, and sometimes tied with deer tendons.
True to its name, the longhouse is very long, and can house one clan, which
could be up to twenty families! There are two separate doors at each end
which is covered with animal hides in order to keep in the warmth. Inside the
longhouse, there are two stories, the sleeping area on the top and the
common area at floor level. Above the sleeping area, there are shelves that are
used for storing food, pots, pans and other objects. The longhouse is divided
into sections, with each section area separated by mats and screens. Four
families shared one fire, which was an important source of light, since there
were no windows in the longhouse. At the top of the longhouses, there were
smoke holes to let the smoke from the fire out. During winter, however, these
holes were covered with hide in order to keep the warmth in.
