Earth lodge  -  Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, ND.  The Mandan-Hidatsa Indian tribes formed communities of earth lodges.  They were well insulated against the harsh winters and accommodated 10-30 people.  The Indians prepared well for winter with plenty of dried corn and other foods that they shared with the white men, saving them from hunger and possibly starvation.
Photo:  ©Charley Van Pelt