Building a thatched dome hut in a clearing on a mountain
Clearing a space
Making a stone hand axe
cutting saplings
Marking a 2.5m diameter circle with 8 stakes around the edge
Stakeholes are about 0.25m deep
Saplings are about 2.75m long
Vine for lashing
Frame completed
Cutting palm fronds with a stone flake
A bundle of 100 fronds six to seven bundles were needed
Splitting palm fronds
Tying thatch to the frame
Rainforest leaves have drip tips so water won't stay on their leaves long enough for algae to grow. This means they also make good thatch.
This type of thatch last for about 2 years
Making a roof cap
Digging a moat
Planting sweet potatoes
Rain coming off the hut will water the garden
Taro
Hut completed
This hut was easy to build with minimal tools, materials and effort. The pointed dome is 2.5m wide and 2m tall. The shape sheds rain and funnels smoke well while retaining heat providing a large inner volume to house a bed, a hearth, fire wood and tools.