What did pawnee live in?

Answer 1

The four Pani or Pawnee tribes (Skidi, Kitkehaxki, Tsawi and Pitahawerata) lived in semi-permanent villages of earth lodges.

These were large, semi-underground structures with eight large central posts arranged within a circular excavation and connected by horizontal beams; around the outside were shorter wooden uprights arranged in a ring ; wooden poles were then laid over these radiating down from the centre, where an opening was left for a smoke-hole. Over these poles would be laid brushwood, turf and soil to create the roof, which was then sealed with a layer of waterproof clay. At one side would be an entrance with a timber porch, giving the whole structure the look of an igloo of soil (hence "earth lodges"). Similar dwellings were constructed by the Arikara, Mandan and Hidatsa tribes further north and by the Omahas, Poncas and others.

In the summer, when hunting bands of Pawnees left the villages to find the buffalo herds, they made temporary camps of small tipis, but these were not used for more than a week or two during the year.

Earth lodges could be used for many years but needed occasional repairs to the roof; eventually the timbers would rot and a new earth lodge would have to be constructed. They were always thick with vermin, lice and fleas, which shocked the early White explorers but did not seem to bother the Pawnees, who simply accepted those conditions.

Answer 2

The Pawnee tribes lived in earth lodges (see link below for an image). During the buffalo hunting season Pawnee hunters used small versions of the Plains tipi.