Sleep in a real Native American bark (wigwam) lodge.  Jefferson Patterson Park and Muesum staff have given MAPS members a unique opportunity to experiencing what life was like for Mid-Atlantic Native Americans. This is not something to miss.

Experience how the local natives lived by staying over night in a authentic tulip poplar bark (wigwam) lodge at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum's (JPPM) Indian village. Participate in living history and learn something about Mid-Atlantic Native Americans.

In the eastern United States and adjacent parts of Canada the prevailing type was that commonly known under the Algonkian name of wigwam, of wagon-top shape, with perpendicular sides and ends and rounded roof, and constructed of stout poles set in the ground and covered with bark or with mats woven of grass or rushes. Doorways at each end served also as windows, and openings in the roof allowed the smoke to escape. In general the houses were communal, several closely related families occupying the same dwelling.

The some bark houses were sometimes one hundred feet in length, divided into compartments about ten feet square, opening upon a central passageway along which were ranged the fires, two families occupying opposite compartments at the same fire. Raised platforms around the sides of the room were covered with skins and served both as seats and beds. The houses of a settlement were usually scattered irregularly, according to the convenience of the owner, but in some cases, especially on disputed tribal frontiers, they were set compactly together in regular streets, and surrounded by strong stockades. Some had stockaded forts that had platforms running around on the inside, near the top, from which the defenders could more easily shoot down upon the enemy.

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Cordage Making

The first Native watermen of the Chesapeake lived in villages along the rivers and bays. They fished from dugout canoes and trapped fish in weirs. The tribes feasted from abundant waters and forests. Oysters, crabs, mussles, clams, shad, perch, trout, bass, flounder, deer, partridge, turkey and rabbit were just some of the bounty they enjoyed. Natural cordage was important to catching the Chesapeake's bounty.

The ability to twine, braid, twist, roll or weave fibers into cordage is one of the oldest of mankind's primitive skills. The materials from which to ply and braid cords or ropes are in abundance everywhere. Any fibrous material that has reasonable length, moderate strength and is flexible or pliable can be utilized. Natural cordage making is one of the most satisfying skills to practice. It is simple to construct and is one of the most important tools you can have. Its uses range from lashing dwellings, making mats, containers, clothing, snares, fishnets, hammocks and bow strings are only a few of the uses of cordage. Lacking nails, bolts and screws, and having little to use for adhesives, indigenous cultures tied their world together.

Around the lodge fire we will talk about the extraction and preparation of various plant fibers. Techniques of plying the fibers into cordage will then be explored. We will make cordage will be made from dogbane. It is a fun way to spend an evening around the campfire because you can be productive and relax at the same time.

Notes

The JPPM Inidan village was created in the method of reconstruction archaeology that usually provides data for experiemental archaeology, but in this case the purpose is for public education.  Experimental archaeology should not be confused with primitive technology, one is concerned with gaining data and the other with function.