Shelter People lived mostly outdoors along river terraces and in the uplands.

Needed shelter from the sun, mostly. Over 200 painted rock shelters in the Lower Pecos, most of which have occupational debris. Rock shelters used to store firewood, heavy tools such as manos and metates, and ritual equipment. Most were probably named features on the landscape. People probably told stories of certain shelters significance over the generations. Shelters not constantly occupied, but perhaps seasonally. Dry burials at the back of some shelters. Earth ovens near the front of shelters Living Space divided into latrines near back on one side, sleeping areas near back, warming fires with heating rocks in front of sleeping areas. Floors likely had lots of fine dust and were often covered with grasses, oak leaves, prickly pear pads, and woven mats. Sleeping areas were sometimes dug out in a shallow way and lined with prickly pear pads, discarded sandals, etc., before being covered with mats or hides.

Shelter furnishings Woven mats cover the floor of the shelter. Bison robes and deer hides are piled around to use for sleeping and to lean on during the day. Ritual objects are kept behind screens made of matting. The latrine is in one corner of the shelter, behind a mat screen. A stick point horizontally if the latrine is occupied, and vertically when it is free. Fires are located at the outer edge of the shelter except in the most severe weather, when they are moved further back. If weather necessitates, a mat screen can be placed on the windward side of the fire to keep it from being blown out. Mat screens can also be used as protection from the sun. Sometimes brush arbors are constructed for shade in the shelters, at certain times of year. Brush shelters Are constructed easily by everyone, whenever they are needed. Mats or hides are sometimes placed on top of the brush or on the ground inside. Life at Hinds Cave: TBH Sleeping pits lined with plant material, latrines, earth ovens under the overhang. Sometimes used live oak leaves for flooring and possibly bedding. Probably when the leaves drop in March.

Housekeeping

Uplandsonly windbreaks and brush huts Rock sheltersdesignated living areas: latrines, sleeping, hearths, working area Semi-circular patterns of wooden stakes may represent wind blocks or privacy partitions in the rock shelters Most floor covering was two prickly pads thick