hogan

/hoh"gawn, -geuhn/, n.

a Navajo Indian dwelling constructed of earth and branches and covered with mud or sod.

[1870-75, Amer.; < Navajo hooghan hogan, home]

* * *

Dwelling of the Navajo Indians of Arizona and New Mexico.

The hogan is roughly circular and constructed usually of logs, which are stepped in gradually to create a domed roof. The whole structure is then covered with mud and sod except for a circular opening in the roof that allows smoke to escape. The entrance generally faces the rising sun.

* * *

▪ Navajo dwelling

      traditional dwelling and ceremonial structure of the Navajo Indians of Arizona and New Mexico. Early hogans were dome-shaped buildings with log, or occasionally stone, frameworks. Once framed, the structure was then covered with mud, dirt, or sometimes sod. The entrance generally faced east, toward the rising sun, and was usually covered with a blanket. Except for a circular opening in the roof to allow smoke to escape, traditional hogans were without windows or interior divisions.

      By the early 21st century, hogan architecture had changed somewhat to accommodate new construction materials and techniques. Typically hexagonal or octagonal buildings with notched-log or balloon-frame construction, they maintained traditional design elements such as the generally circular floor plan and eastward-facing door.

* * *