1. A computer-implemented method for encoding content, comprising: at a content producing device to communicate with a content centric network (CCN): determining a root manifest that indicates a set of content objects including data objects and other manifests in a hierarchy in which a root node represents the root manifest, intermediate nodes represent the other manifests, and terminal nodes represent data objects mapped back to the root manifest via parent-child relationships with the other manifests, wherein each content object is indicated by a unique name used for routing in the CCN and a corresponding hash, wherein the root manifest indicates (i) names and hashes for data objects that are direct children of the root manifest, and (ii) an identifier of an external root manifest index; generating the external root manifest index as a named content object distinct from the root manifest and to include a list of entries corresponding to the set of content objects of the hierarchy, wherein the root manifest index allows the set of content objects indicated in the root manifest to be searched and accessed directly, to enable a content consumer to seek a desired location in content represented by the root manifest; receiving from the CCN a first Interest requesting the root manifest by name and, in response, sending the root manifest to the CCN, wherein the first Interest includes a hash value associated with the root manifest; and receiving from the CCN a second Interest requesting the external root manifest index by name and, in response, accessing the index using the identifier and sending the index to the CCN, wherein the second Interest includes a hash value associated with the external root manifest index.