What is a longhouse made of?

Although not all longhouses are made of the same material, most of them have a framework built of wooden posts and poles. These structures are then covered with sheets of bark.

Most longhouses have the same basic rectangular shape. Nearly 500 years ago, the longhouse served a large role in the Iroquois culture. Not many materials were available naturally at that time, so the Iroquois made do with what was available. Many different types of cultures lived in these types of houses. The Vikings lived in longhouses for a period, as well as societies in the modern country of Borneo.