West Oak Forest Earthlodge Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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West Oak Forest Earthlodge Site
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Nearest city | Glenwood, Iowa |
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| MPS | Archeological Resources of the Central Plains Tradition in the Loess Hills Region of Iowa MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000342 |
| Added to NRHP | June 11, 2010 |
The West Oak Forest Earthlodge Site is a special historical place near Glenwood, Iowa, in the United States. It's where an ancient home, called an earthlodge, once stood. This site helps us learn about the people who lived in this area many hundreds of years ago.
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Discovering the West Oak Forest Earthlodge Site
In 2009, a local expert named Dennis Miller found something interesting. He noticed a round dip in the ground, about 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. This dip was about 24 inches (61 cm) deep. It turned out to be the remains of an old earthlodge!
The next year, experts from the Office of the State Archeologist checked the site. They confirmed it was a real historical discovery. This site is now one of 29 known earthlodges from a time called the Nebraska Phase.
What is an Earthlodge?
Earthlodges were homes built by Native American people long ago. They were strong, round houses made from natural materials. Imagine a house with a frame of four tall wooden posts in the center. Shorter posts formed the outer walls.
The walls and roof were made using a method called wattle and daub. This means they wove branches (wattle) together and then covered them with a mix of mud, clay, and straw (daub). The whole structure was then covered with earth, making it warm in winter and cool in summer.
Over many years, these earthlodges slowly decayed and collapsed. This is why Dennis Miller found a depression in the ground. It was the spot where the old house had sunk into the earth.
Who Lived Here and When?
The earthlodge at West Oak Forest was built by people from the Nebraska Phase. This group was part of the larger Woodland period in North America. They lived in this area between about 1250 and 1400 C.E.. The Common Era is our modern way of counting years, similar to A.D.
Archeologists have found 231 artifacts at the site. Artifacts are objects made by people in the past, like tools or pottery. These items help us understand how the people lived, what they ate, and what their daily lives were like.
Protecting This Important Site
Because of its historical importance, the West Oak Forest Earthlodge Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. This list includes places across the United States that are important to history. Being on this list helps protect the site so future generations can also learn from it.
