The Tolkien Coming of Age Club 2

[Alphaelin]

Pioneers to the Canadian prairies in the 19C dug dwellings out of hills and dirt to survive their first terrible experience of winter on the North American prairie.

Bêthberry , this sounds like the 'soddies' built in the plains states of the U.S., for the same reason -- dirt and sod were the most easily acquired building materials and they provided good protection not only against bitter cold winters but against the miserably hot summer sun in the plains. While they didn't have the sophistication of a solid brick-lined hobbit hole, any Shire Folk who had emigrated to the treeless prairies of North America would have had an easier time resorting to earthen shelters than some of the Big People.

Also, in Child's second hobbit hole link (the cottage in Wales), the second picture down -- showing the rafters in a round room -- reminded me somewhat of pictures I've seen of the ceilings of earthen lodges used by some Native Amercian tribes. An intriguing mental connection!