The Indian Village
The Indian village was an essential part in the life of the Native American. Village life broadened the social circle, wealth, and security of the residents. It also required that its members give up time to work in the fields and build homes for the growing community.
This is an example of what a Powhatan Indian village looked like in 1609, when the settlers first came to Virginia. John White, an English settler is the artist of this work. He traveled to the colony of Virginia, and was trained to survey, study, and record the environment of the colonies.
How Homes Were Built
The Powhatan Indians built their homes out of saplingsG They stick them into the ground and bend and tie them at the top. Strong roots and stringy muscles are used to tie them together. The frame is then covered with big patches of tree bark. They also use mats, made by the Powhatan women, to cover the frame. Mats are made by weaving long reedsG together.
In the top of the frame of the house, however, a hole is left. This allows smoke from the fire inside to escape through the hole. Every house keeps a fire going inside at all times. This constant burning of fire is due to their superstitionsG. The Indians feared that evil spirits would visit their homes if the fire stopped burning.
There are no doors in the Powhatan homes, they use mats instead. When they leave to go hunting, they put big logs in front of their doors to keep out the bears and wild animals. When the weather is hot, the doors are left open, and sometimes walls of the house are removed in order to allow more air to get in. This act is similar to us opening a window today.
Village at the Crab Orchard Site
Copyright 1992 by The Department of Historic Resources
This village was built around 1500 A.D. It was 400 feet across, surrounded with a wall that was replaced three times as the posts decayed! The meaning of these walls remains a question--were they strictly for defense against warringG tribes, or did they keep wild animals out? Inside the walls, these Indians built circular homes in rows around the central plazaG and dug many storage and burial pits.
Outside the gate of the village is the site's largest structure: The council house. This is where the tribe held their meetings. Beyond the meeting house were the fields where they often grazedG their animals.
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