The ceremonial earth lodge is more than 90 feet (27 m) in diameter, the largest such structure in the world. The family earth lodges are roughly 40 feet (12 m) in diameter. The park is open to the public and located west of New Town at the Earthlodge Village Site. In addition, a garden area and corrals have been built for authenticity. The village consists of six family-sized earth lodges and one large ceremonial lodge. A village entirely made up of earth-lodges may be seen at New Town, North Dakota.
A reconstructed earth lodge can be seen at the Glenwood, Iowa's Lake Park. Locations Įarth lodges were often built alongside tribal farm fields, alternating with tipis (which were used during the nomadic hunting season). Earth lodges often also contained cache pits (root cellar-type holes) lined with willow and grasses, within which dried vegetables were stored. A windbreak was built on the interior of the lodge, blocking the wind and giving privacy to the occupants. A vestibule of exposed logs marked the entrance and provided an entryway these vestibules were often a minimum of 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 m) in length (determined by the size of the lodge and resulting outer-clay thickness). Therefore, a lodge was considered to be owned by the woman who built it.
In Hidatsa culture, men only raised the large logs the rest of the work was done by women. Cottonwood was a wet, soft wood this meant that lodges often required rebuilding every six to eight years. The most common wood used was cottonwood. Logs were gathered each spring as the ice receded and sheared them off fresh logs were also cut. This smoke hole was often covered by a bullboat during inclement weather. The middle of the earth lodge was used as a fire pit, and a hole was built into the center. The structures consisted of a clay outer shell over an inner shell of long grasses and a woven willow ceiling. The earth layer (and the partially subterranean foundation) provided insulation against the extreme temperatures of the Plains. The structure was then entirely covered in earth. Any creature in the tree falls when it reverts to a staff.After a strong layer of sticks (or reeds) was wrapped through and over the radiating roof timbers, the people often applied a layer of thatch as part of the roof. While touching the tree and using another Action to speak its Command, word, you Return the staff to its normal form. The tree appears ordinary but radiates a faint aura of Transmutation magic if targeted by Detect Magic. The tree is 60 feet tall and has a 5-foot-diameter trunk, and its branches at the top spread out in a 20-foot radius. Tree Form: You can use an Action to plant one end of the staff in fertile earth and expend 1 charge to transform the staff into a healthy tree. You can also use an Action to cast the Pass without Trace spell from the staff without using any Charges. Spells: You can use an Action to expend 1 or more of the staff's Charges to cast one of the following Spells from it, using your spell save DC: Animal Friendship (1 charge), Awaken (5 charges), Barkskin (2 charges), locate animals or Plants (2 charges), Speak with Animals (1 charge), speak with Plants (3 charges), or Wall of Thorns (6 charges). On a 1, the staff loses its Properties and becomes a nonmagical Quarterstaff. If you expend the last charge, roll a d20. It regains 1d6 + 4 expended Charges daily at dawn. The staff has 10 Charges for the following Properties. While holding it, you have a +2 bonus to spell Attack rolls.
This staff can be wielded as a magic Quarterstaff that grants a +2 bonus to Attack and Damage Rolls made with it.