Yurt

The yurt is a relatively small structure originally used by the nomadic Mongolian and Turkic tribes of Central Asia. It was used primarily as a temporary shelter by these tribes as they followed the herds of sheep and yak across the rugged and unforgiving terrain. The yurt is a surprisingly strong and formidable home, and could withstand the severe changes in the weather and adapt to the type of region on which it was built.

The word “yurt,” in the Turkic language, refers to the imprint the shelter leaves once it has been packed up and moved. Russians call them “yurta,” Mongolians call them “ger,” Kazakhs call them “киіз үй,” Kyrgyz call them “боз үй,” Afghans call them “kherga,” Pakistanis call them “gher,” and Persians call them “xeyme.”

Ayaz Qala yurt camp (Uzbekistan)
photo courtesy flickr commons

The oldest yurt discovered has been estimated to be well over 3,000 years old, predating Jesus, Mohammed, and Buddha. In all probability, the proud yet simple yurt stood long before even then, providing shelter from the ever-harsh Central Asian terrain. There is no solid evidence as to which tribe or people invented the yurt, though the debate is highly charged amongst different factions, all of which want credit for the birth of the yurt.

Kyrghiz family in front of their yurt near Issyk-Kul lake, Kirghizstan
photo courtesy wikicommons

Since timber was very hard to come by for the tribes, saplings were used and then covered with wool which was layered and watered into a felt. The word “felt” was originally a synonym for “nomads,” or the “felt people.” The felt, or animal fur covering the yurt, could be packed on in the winter for more warmth or removed during the summer for more ventilation.

In some cultures, the type of door on the yurt defined the owner’s status. For instance, Mongolian yurts use a thick wooden door, but the Turkic use rug flaps or brilliantly decorated cloth.

Originally, women were in charge of building and designing the yurt, which is much more complicated and impressive than it looks. It is circular in shape, which drives the wind around the structure as opposed to directly into or at it. The walls are made of lattice, and the roof beams, depending on the culture, can be extremely intricate and difficult to assemble. Oftentimes the building of the yurt was a community effort.

Of all the yurt-building tribes that ever were, the Mongolians seem to be the most strict and serious about their yurts. For them it was “centering point in a moving universe” and their floor plan represented the four directions, with the door always facing south. The east and west, the yin and the yang, defined the man’s half and the woman’s half. The man would store his goods, such as hunting gear and whiskey on his half, and the woman would store her goods, such as pots, pans, and children.

An example of a modern yurt in the United States
photo courtesy flickr creative commons

While the original yurt was taken very seriously and used as a means of primary survival, once the modern westerner got wind of the thing they, as per usual, began creating yurts that go beyond science fiction. Today, a yurt can cost from $10,000-$30,000, depending on how ridiculous you want to take it. There are yurts available which stand larger than the average house, with all the high-tech gadgetry, wood floors, multiple rooms and stories that define our current home architecture. Some of these yurts are stunning to look at after studying the ancient model.

Cold kickin' it all up in tha yurt
photo courtesy flickr creative commons

The Garland County Library has several books concerning the yurt, most notably Paul King's The Complete Yurt Handbook and Len Charney's Build a Yurt, the Low Cost Mongolian Round House.

A two-story yurt
photo courtesy flickr commons