This longhouse was built to support a single Powhatan family. Like most longhouses used
by the Woodland Indians, they contained shelves that could be used for storing food,
equipment, and tools. While it was common for the Indians to sleep on the floor, some
homes had platforms or racks that could be used as beds or chairs. The Indians in these
homes slept on platforms lined with deerskin on each wall.
In the center of this longhouse was an area to build a fire which was used for keeping warm
in the winter or for cooking during rainy weather. Some larger longhouses might contain
more than one place to build a fire. A hole built into the top of the longhouse served as
a chimney to allow smoke to rise from the fire and ventilate to the outside.
These photographs also show the detail of how small, slender branches are woven around the bent poles. To this framing are attached slabs of bark or dried grass that were tied to the frame to form the roof and walls that protected them from bad weather. This house also has compartments for storing baskets.