Hey, Harriet, thanks for digging out and sharing these interesting articles and especially the names of Miwoks who participated in building the Madera roundhouse. Is it still there? Regarding roundhouses, there is still a Miwok roundhouse at the Tuolumne Reservation, which was built in the traditional ways probably around the same time that this article was written. It seems to me it was there in the '60s when I was in college and used to go up for the annual Acorn Festival that was held in September. When I last visited the Tuolumne Rez several years ago with my niece, the roundhouse was still there and we took some photos. The roundhouse in Tuolumne has what is called a "foot drum" -- this is made by digging a hole and stretching a deerhide or other hide across it, tight enough so that a drummer can stand on it and drum with his feet. Joan ====================================================== In a message dated 10/29/00 7:17:02 PM Pacific Standard Time, harriet@madnet.net writes: > > Miwok Culture From: > > MADERA COUNTY DIAMOND JUBILEE COMMITTEE > AND MADERA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY > > BY Charles W. Clough > > Part -1- > > A Remaining Bit Of An Earlier Culture > > Madera County has the unique distinction of having within its > boundaries the last Miwok Indian Round House (hangi), which is > also variously called semi-subterranean assembly, dance, > or ceremonial house. There is no assurance that the county > will continue to enjoy this distinction as the wooden building > stands in a field of dry grass on private property which is for > sale. It is located about a half-mile north of the Ahwahnee post > office in the Wasuma Valley. > > The Round House was built in 1903 to replace one which was > burned in 1893. It differs from the historic specifications > for such houses in some details. The following is a description > of the traditional house as told in Barret and Gifford’s Miwok > Material Culture: > > “The assembly house was for social and ceremonial gatherings. > It was the place where gambling and dancing were conducted. > It was never used as a dwelling or even as a sleeping quarters > for the men, except sometimes when a ceremony was being held > in the village. > > “A large pit, forty or fifty feet in diameter, was dug to a > depth of three or four feet. Over this was erected a roof in > the form of a low cone, supported by heavy beams. These in > turn were supported by means of four center posts and eight > side posts. The edges of the cone rested on the edge of the > pit. This cone was covered with thatch and earth, which made > the roof air and water tight. > > “A thatch of brush, topped with Digger or Western Yellow Pine > needles, never Sugar Pine needles, was put on. This was > followed by the final covering of earth. Altogether the roof > was a foot and a half or two feet thick. The opening in the > top of the conical roof served as the smoke hole, the fire > being built directly under it. The entrance was on any side.” > (Some other authorities say the entrance was always on the > east.) > > A pit was not dug for the Ahwahnee house. Five-foot upright > walls served the purpose of the pit and supported the cone. > Lumber and nails were used and the roof was covered with shakes. > >