Native American Kiicha Exhibit
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The Native American Kiicha Exhibit includes an example of a kiicha which is a typical structure that the peoples made. They were used primarily for sleeping and held
10 or 12 people in one the size shown on the site. There is also a cutaway view of a granary basket that would be used to hold acorns, roots, and other items off the ground and away
from insects and small animals.
Acorns formed a lrge part of the diet of the native Americans in the local area. They were typically crushed into a powder which could be used like flour to make a porridge-like meal or be formed into small cakes to take on hunting and foraging expeditions.
The interior of the kiicha had no amenities other than a possible fire pit in the center for extra warmth on cold nights and an opening at the top of the structure to allow smoke
to exit. The natives always entered and exited the kiicha backwards so that evil spirits did not follow them in and good spirits did not follow them out.
A metate (mortar) and mano (pestle) was used to grind foodstuffs. Acorns were ground into a flour-like powder and repeatedly rinsed with water to remove the bitter acids
and make them more palatable. Cooking was done over open fires or by taking rocks heated in the fire and placing them into the food.
Metates were fashioned in many different shapes and sizes to make the work easier depending on the inidividual and the particular item that needed to be crushed or ground.
Acorns formed a lrge part of the diet of the native Americans in the local area. They were typically crushed into a powder which could be used like flour to make a porridge-like meal or be formed into small cakes to take on hunting and foraging expeditions.