Wigwam

Wigwam and Wickiup designate dwellings, which are mainly used by Indians in northeastern North America. Typical is the dome shape with a round, but rectangular base. The framework of the dwelling consisted of curved logs, which was covered with materials such as grass mats.

Word origin

The word wigwam was probably the first time wìkəwαm from one of the Algonquian languages ​​about 1628 from the Eastern Abenaki, into English and then borrowed into German.

In most Algonquian languages, the word for " house " is very similar:

• * wi · · kiwa ʔmi in the reconstructed original Algonquian
• Wigwôm in the Western Abenaki
• Wiigiwaam in the Anishinaabe to wiigwaam also contracted wiigiwaam in Algonquian ( in the narrow sense ) can also miigiwaam loud ( with the nX prefix m- instead of n3 prefix w - )

The Abenaki called their dwellings, depending on the dialect wetu, witu, Wetoun or Wekuwomut. The above-mentioned names in the Algonquian languages ​​, all of which mean apartment, house or dwelling, converted the whites around 1660 into the name wigwam, which she soon indiscriminately all the dwellings of the Indians designated, whether these lived in a wigwam or not.

Method of construction

Wigwams differ from the otherwise similar tipis (from the Sioux Ti = "house" and Pi = ", use " ie " the house that you use " ) substantially in that the vertical stems are bent. They can also have a round as well as a rectangular base.

To build a wigwam young Hickorystämme or fresh elm logs were cut free from the branches and then placed in a circle of usually 4.5 to 6 meters in diameter. Depending on the size of the wigwam was needed between six and 18 of up to five meters long poles. Below, they were backed by digging into the ground, from bottom to top, they were gradually reinforced with cross bars. Finally, the ends of the staves were tied up to a kind of frame. This frame was then covered with woven rushes, bark, animal skins, reed mats or grass mats. Bark ( birch or chestnut ) and animal skins were used especially in the winter when there is no tall grass was available. The Wigwam was, just like the teepee, are internally heated by an open fire.

Especially the Woodland Indians around the Great Lakes and on the Atlantic coast, mostly Algonquin and Sioux, used the wigwam. It was aimed at a longer residence time in the same place, but could also mined without much loss of material and thanks to the ubiquitous building material also rebuilt quickly. For strains that changed her residential area seasonally, to cover the wigwam was removed, rolled up and taken to the migrations. The skeleton structure was allowed to return, to use it again upon return. The construction of the Wigwam varied among the different tribes in size and detail. The largest structures built by the Algonquian -speaking Kickapoo in the Great Lakes, their wigwams reached base area of 25 square meters and heights of almost 3 meters. A distinction was made according to the size and use even the little wigwam ( often used as a sweat lodge ) and the Great Wigwam.

Wickiup

The dome-shaped Wickiup (also Wickeyup ), a grass hut was used by the Paiute, Apache, as well as those covered by the Highland Yuma Yavapai and Hualapai in the mountains, deserts and semi-deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Northern Mexico. The Wickiup could be built within a few hours and dismantled more quickly, which was important for the nomadic lifestyle of these tribes. Especially for the warlike and predatory Apaches there was often a matter of being able to quickly move their rancherias in safe areas against enemies. Although the Wickiup represented one of the simplest forms of living in North America, although often used the tribes, especially during the summer, in their migrations only simple windscreens, called ramadas. For the establishment of a wickerwork Wickiups from the branches and piles of oak and willow was driven into the ground. The supports were apart for about three handbreadth and were tied to the stake with ropes tips from yucca fibers. At this framework tufts of grass were now attached, were placed and tied over the animal skins. Sometimes they were held with animal skins covered by woven mats of grass. Childless couples with the Apaches built a Wickiup of nearly 3 meters in diameter and 2 meters in height, a correspondingly larger families. Just as Wigwam is the word Wickiup from the Eastern Algonquian languages ​​is derived. The Sauk, Fox and Kickapoo called their homes simply Wi- kiya -pi ( = " house" ).

More grass huts

Grass huts were not only in the dry southwestern and northeastern woodland present. Even in Southern California ( Tipai, Chumash and Gabrielino ) established different strains of grass huts that were built conical or hives appeared. They had a diameter of up to 6 feet in height and from 4.5 to 6 meters. The Chumash even had window openings, the door opening was sealed with a Tulematte. The strains Tulematten used to divide the interior into separate areas.

The Caddo and Wichita on the Southern Plains lived in grass huts, but with a diameter of up to 12 meters higher levels. The cabins were built on a circular plan and had either a dome shape or a pointed dome. One or two entrances led into the interior. In contrast to the other grass huts and the wigwams and Wickiups, no smoke hole was mostly provided in the roof, the smoke had to escape through the grass cover.