How were lower Columbia River houses built to stay warm and dry?

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Along the lower Columbia River, indigenous peoples designed their homes to effectively manage the region's cold and damp climate. These houses were built over a large, deep, rectangular pit that was lined with planks. By sinking the structure into the ground, the earth provided excellent insulation against the elements. Only the gabled roof and its end supports were visible above the surface, which helped keep the interior warm and dry.1