Pre-European Influence

In summer, the extended family slept in the summer house, which was rectangular in shape.  Summer houses constructed on the perimeter of settlements had port holes clayed over on the outside so that they were virtually invisible, but on the inside the windows were circled with paint and could be opened in order to use weapons in defending the settlement. The strong posts of pitch-pine were fixed deep in the ground to last for several ages. Trees of dried honey locust and sassafras were also used as posts for their durability.  Each Chickasaw of consequence owned a group of dwellings, including the winter house, corn house, and fowl house. The women had a communal menstrual house they used for the "unclean times" and for a time after giving birth to a child.

In times of danger, everybody-warriors, women and children-sought shelter in strongly fortified stockades.