About Karankawa Shelters

The Karankawa were a tribe or band of Indians living in Texas around the Gulf of Mexico. Though they were first reported in the 1500s, but the end of the 19th century the tribe was completely extinct. Today historians are fascinated by these people and their lives, in particular the shelters and places where they lived.

  1. Types

    • The Karankawa Indians had two different types of shelters they lived in depending on the situation. During the colder months they simply leaned several tree branches together and slept underneath the branches. When they settled down in the warmer months they made sturdier shelters to protect the family. Heavier branches were secured into the ground and they covered the whole shelter with leaves or woven mats of grass. When time permitted they would use deer skins to cover the outside.

    Geography

    • The Karankawa were always found in what's now modern day Texas, near the Gulf of Mexico and they never ventured outside this area. At times they could be found around Galveston although they sometimes moved towards Corpus Christi or San Antonio Bay. As the weather changed and the temperatures dropped, they moved to warmer weather. They would often leave their permanent shelters behind when they moved, only to return when the warm weather returned.

    Features

    • Karankawa shelters are easily identified by the round shape they took on as well as the domed shape of the roof. Tree branches were bent roughly by hand to create a rounded shape and then woven together to create the shelter. The outside was covered with grass, leaves or deer hides to protect the occupants from rain, wind and other environmental hazards. They were durable and sturdy, capable of standing for several months at a time even when left unattended.

    Function

    • Shelters were used by the Karankawa people for sleeping and little else. During the summer months they were constantly on the move, hunting and gathering their food. The only time they went inside was at night. In the winter months the family gathered together inside their shelter to stay warm and escape the cold air outside. The shelters were never meant to provide anything more than a place to rest. They were even known to leave behind their homes when they moved on.

    Size

    • The Karankawa were a tall breed of people, with some explorers claiming they were over seven foot tall. Historians believe they were at least six foot tall in most cases, including the women. The shelters they lived in were often as tall as they were, if not taller. They were also quite wide, as several people slept inside at one time. The shelters were usually 6 to 7 feet wide on all sides to make room for an entire family.