How did Native Americans use geothermal heat thousands of years ago?

Native Americans utilized geothermal energy as early as 10,000 years ago, primarily by harnessing the heat from hot springs for cooking, bathing, and warmth.1

These applications represent a form of direct-use geothermal energy, which involves utilizing naturally occurring heated water from the ground without the need for specialized mechanical equipment. By accessing these surface-level thermal resources, indigenous populations were able to integrate the Earth's internal heat into their daily lives long before the development of modern geothermal power technologies.12