Although the "plank" design may look like it was borrowed from European houses, it was not. There are Indian plank homes that date back many many hundreds of years associated with various local Northern California Tribes including Karuk, Yurok, Tolowa, and Hupa. The structures were partially set below ground with a round doorway set above ground level. There was a ledge or shelf that ran around the interior of the home at ground level, and a pit dug below ground level in the center of the home. Smaller plank houses were made for use as sweathouses.
