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Aleut semi-earth houses
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For most of the year the Aleuts lived in settlements located on high capes separating two gulfs, so that if enemies appeared in one of them, they could always escape through the other one. Near a settlement there was always a source of fresh water. A settlement consisted of several large semi-earth houses called barabara. In each of them several families lived – in general from fifty to two hundred people. An average house was about 60 meters long and 15 meters wide. To construct such house a pit was dug about 1.5 meters deep, on whose edges two rows of poles were installed, and two more rows were installed at a distance of 2-4 meters from the walls. On top the construction was covered with a framework of wooden plunks or whale ribs and covered with mats and grass. Then it was covered up with earth and turf. There were no doors. The entrance holes were placed on top of the construction and also served for ventilation and light. A house was entered through logs with incisions installed vertically. Inside each house was divided with partitions and mats into sleeping areas for separate families. The central part was an area of general use. Men made here implements, skeletons of kayaks, and women processed skins and made clothes. Here religious ceremonies were also held. The Aleuts did not have special public houses. Most inhabitants of Alaska (the Eskimo and the Athabaskan people) also constructed similar earth-houses.
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