Navaho Houses / Seventeenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1895-1896, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1898, pages 469-518

Name: Navaho Houses / Seventeenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1895-1896, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1898, pages 469-518
Author: Cosmos Mindeleff

By Cosmos Mindeleff

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About This Book

The report documents traditional Navaho dwelling forms, detailing landscape selection, materials, and step-by-step construction of winter hogáns and lighter summer shelters, including structural diagrams and nomenclature for parts. It describes everyday habits influencing house design, variations such as sweat and medicine huts, and ceremonies of dedication with associated songs and ritual meanings. The text notes effects of modern influences on building practices and provides measurements, illustrations, and a lexical inventory to aid comparative study. Emphasis rests on how environment, ritual, and continuity shape vernacular architecture.

About the Author

Cosmos Mindeleff

Cosmos Mindeleff was an American ethnologist and archaeologist known for his extensive work with the Bureau of Ethnology. His research primarily focused on the indigenous cultures of the American Southwest, particularly the architectural remains of ancient civilizations. Among his notable contributions are detailed reports on the Casa Grande Ruin and the cliff dwellings of Canyon de Chelly, which provide valuable insights into the lives and structures of the Native American peoples. Mindeleff's writings, such as "Aboriginal Remains in Verde Valley, Arizona," reflect his commitment to documenting and preserving the history of these cultures.