A single family Wampanoag home was known as a wetu. A collection of connected homes with multiple families were called wetuash with each family having its own fire pit. Homes were framed in a circle and rounded with sapling trees using their bark to secure the trunks. This design allowed for even heating or cooling.  Wide pieces of bark from older trees covered the frame in winter and cattail mats made for warmer weather. For added warmth bulrush mats that were decorated were placed on inside walls.

The colonist’s 1 room homes were also framed in wood which was formed into squared beams and planks and held together with nails they brought with them. The roofs were thatched and made from marsh reeds. The outside frame was covered with small thin boards called clapboard. Small sticks called wattle were pushed into the frame and covered with a mixture of clay, earth, grass and water to make a mortar called daub. This could be smooth over like plaster inside the house. It would take about 2-3 months to build a house.

For more information, please see:

https://plimoth.org/for-students/homework-help/building-a-home

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