Which materials were commonly used to construct longhouses?

• A. Stone and brick
• B. Metal sheets
• C. Clay and straw
• D. Tree bark, cedar, hickory, elm

Answer: (D)

The materials used to build Haudenosaunee longhouses were wood frames covered with tree bark. In the Northeast woodlands, that bark provided a weatherproof outer layer, with elm bark common and cedar or other local woods used as needed. The framing often involved hardwoods like hickory or elm, chosen for strength and availability. This combination reflects how these longhouses were constructed from readily available forest materials to create large, durable communal homes.

Stone and brick, metal sheets, and clay with straw don’t fit traditional longhouse construction, which relies on wooden skeletons and bark coverings rather than heavy masonry, metal, or plaster-like infill.