First things first, you need to find yourself a good level ground with plenty of resources around. This type of shelter won't work in most desert areas due to a lack of resources, but anywhere with trees and leaves will provide everything you need. Clear the area you will be working with and make sure it is about 10 feet by 10 feet.
I always carry a good knife but if you are caught stranded with nothing to your name, you'll need to find something that will cut down small limbs. A good flat rock can be chipped at in order to make a sharp cutting tool. Make sure it's a larger rock in order to let the weight and momentum do most of the work, saving those precious calories you are going to need to ration.
After a little chipping using a round rock against a flat rock, a good heavy blade can be made, which with enough effort will cut down the trees you'll need.
You want to find branches that are between 2 and 3 inches thick. Cut them by hacking at the base with your sharp stone. Break them off and clear them of the limbs.
Use the stump from one of the trees you cut down as a sturdy base to cut your pieces to the proper lengths.
Using a digging stick, you should pound some holes into the ground that your base columns will stick into. Use a large rock to pound the stick into the ground. This will create some holes to insert your main support poles.
You're going to need some vine. You can find this almost anywhere in the woods. From very small branches to roots, almost anything thin and pliable will work.
Insert two poles about 7 feet tall on the outside center border of your area. Lash a cross beam between the two, holding them together and upright. You will need to make the same thing only about half the size toward the edges of your area on both sides of your main center beam.
Using smaller branches that have been lashed together at the two ends you can create the roof structure that will simply lay into place. The roof branches are tied together where they meet at the top. If you gather 4 or 5 of these, it will provide more than enough support for the roof.
Next you will need to gather a bunch of leaves. It is better to gather leaves that have already fallen because they will not change shape as they dry.
Gather some long straight twigs and fold the leaves in half with their natural bend. Pierce the top of the leaf with the twig and spread them apart evenly. This will create your roofing.
Using your lashing material, tie the roofing leaves to the main roof supports while starting at the bottom and working your way up. This will create a waterproof structure allowing water to flow off the edges of your roof. If you can't find enough lashing you can use shoe laces or strips of fabric from your clothing.
Next, you need to provide a little more structural support. Do this by lashing some cross beams between your main supports. Do this to both open sides of your wattle and daub shelter while leaving one missing. This will be your entrance. This shelter, as is, will work for survival for a few days, or even a week or two. If rescue is unsure and you don't know how long you'll be sustaining your existence, you're going to want to take things a few steps further.
Using the cutting stone, you can cut limbs that will create an elevated sleeping platform. Pound the 4 posts into the ground and lash a beam between the front two posts and the rear two posts. Then lay long and flexible sticks between the top and bottom posts and there you have it, an elevated platform. If biting bugs are a concern, you can coat the bottoms of your bed posts with sap to keep the bugs from climbing up.
The next step will ensure that you are safe and comfortable during even the most wicked storms. Using your cutting stone, split your small branches in half. Be very careful as to not hit your hands because a cut will lead to infection which is one of the worst things to happen during survival.
With your branches cut in half they become very flexible. Weave them in and out of your wall supports from the bottom and work your way up alternating your weave.
This will create a very solid structure and give you protection from the elements outside. This will be the main weave that will hold the daub in place.
Now this always looks so easy on TV survival shows but trust me, making a fire by hand is very difficult if you've never done it. I had to practice in my yard many times before I felt comfortable doing it in the wild and even then I can't get it going most of the time. For the next few steps of a wattle and daub shelter you will need a fire. This is why I never go into the woods without a few lighters or fire ignition device.
It looks like he had fairly easy success getting his fire started. You will need some very dry wood and some very dry and fibrous kindling. Once you've created an ember, softly place it into your kindling pile and lightly blow. Next you pray for ignition. A fire can mean the difference between life or death in a survival situation. Not only because it is protection, warmth, and a means of purifying water but the mental accomplishment is unlike anything else when you are all alone in the middle of nowhere.
The next step is to create the daub. Daub is a muddy concoction containing organic plant matter, water, and mud. It is basically a primitive concrete. He found a good place with a heavy consistent supply of dirt and mixed in water and fibrous materials to create the daub. He carried it back to the hut and mashed and mixed it all together.
This is a time-consuming step but it will create tools and much more that you will need to complete your shelter and provide yourself with some very convenient amenities.
Using the daub, roll it into "snakes" and place them on top of each other. Continue up for about 7 to 10 inches in order to create a storage bowl to carry water which you will need for the next step. If you have a waterproof shoe or possibly a collapsible dog bowl on you, you are in luck and can skip this step.
Use the "snake" method to create your containers because they will be more sturdy and consistent. If you try to shape a bowl with your hands it will most likely fall apart when you try to dry it.
He created 7 bowls in no time at all and set them out to dry a little.
After the bowls were slightly hard to the touch he placed them in a pit filled with leaves and dry twigs.
A slow burn around the new clay bowl will harden it and allow it to carry water without falling apart. The fibrous material inside the clay acts like rebar holding concrete together.
Wait for the bowl to cool and carefully remove it from the fire. You now have a convenient water carrying device.
Next you will need to transport water back to your shelter for creating a lot more daub that will be used to insulate and protect the walls.
While these walls would work good to keep you shaded and out of a light rain, they will not insulate you at night or keep a heavy rain out. You will need to create a lot more daub and mash it into your woven wall of branches.
He used mud from right on the outside of the shelter in order to create a small drainage ditch that will keep the base of the wattle and daub shelter dry. Once you create the daub by making mud out of dirt water and fibrous plant materials pack it into the wall.
You will want to do this on both sides, interior and exterior for maximum support and protection.
Grab some of those coals you created earlier and start a small fire inside the shelter. This will begin to dry out your newly formed walls. He took things a step further and created a permanent fire pit right next to the bed.
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