The Inuvialut living on Herschel Island constructed semi-subterranean winter houses using driftwood and sod. A crucifiorm-shaped pit was first excavated into the tundra. A wooden frame was then constructed over the house pit, and used to support log walls which were then covered with sod and snow for insulation. Families entered the house via a tunnel designed to trap warm air inside and keep cold air outside. People slept on raised wooden platforms that opened onto a common space. This simplified computer model was constructed using architectural information from archaeological excavations in the Mackenzie Delta region and Inuvialut oral history.** If you align yourself with the entrance passage and zoom in, you can go inside and see how the dwelling was laid out. **
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