Textile Fibers used in Eastern Aboriginal North AmericaWhitford, A. C.
History
Textile Fibers used in Eastern Aboriginal North America
Whitford, A. C.
Indian textile fabrics -- East (U.S.); Textile fibers
The bast from the black walnut (_Juglans nigra_, L.) was encountered
twice in burden straps from the Iroquois (Museum of the American
Indian, Heye Foundation). These fibers had apparently been previously
treated, both chemically and mechanically. They were probably boiled
in ashes, pounded, and then straightened so as to make them usable in
twisting cord and thread. One such specimen in the above Museum
carries the catalogue number 16-5208.
LINACEAE, Dumort. (Flax Family)
Common flax (_Linum usitatissimum_, L.) is another example of
introduced fibers used by the Indians in post-Columbian times. The
fiber was probably secured in trade. It was found in five specimens
made by the Winnebago, Potawatomi, Michigan, Ottawa, and Delaware
Indians. In the Milwaukee Public Museum is a bag (14619), made by the
Winnebago and composed entirely of flax cords. In a Delaware burden
strap (50-7191) in this Museum the fine cords are linen, but the
coarse cords are milkweed, _Asclepias syriaca_. In the Archaeological
Museum of McGill University is a wampum belt (M5932), the beads of
which are strung on a commercial linen thread.
MALVACEAE, Neck. (Mallow Family)
As was to be expected, cotton (_Gossypium herbaceum_, L.) became the
most commonly and universally used of any of the fibers after it was
introduced east of the Mississippi River. No specimen was encountered
in the prehistoric material, but after its introduction and sale by
traders it was the most commonly used fiber. It does not seem
advisable to discuss these uses in detail, suffice it to say that it
served all purposes for which string and thread are utilized.
SALICACEAE, Lindl. (Willow Family)
Black willow (_Salix nigra_, Marsh.). This species of black willow was
used by the Menomini, Winnebago, Michigan Ottawa, and Ojibway Indians
in the manufacture of bags, pouches, fish nets, and cord. A Menomini
bag (MAIHF 8-1136) and a similar Winnebago bag (AMNH 50.1-903) contain
black willow fiber. A Micmac fish spear (AMNH 50-4754) is wrapped with
black willow twine. In the preparation of black willow fiber the bark
was obviously stripped from the tree. Then the inner white bast tissue
was removed and boiled in wood ashes; finally, this bast was pounded
and rubbed to remove all the cementitious materials and loosen the
fibers so they could be arranged more or less parallel to each other
for twisting or spinning. In none of the specimens examined were crude
strips of the inner bark used without preliminary treatment.
TILIACEAE, Juss. (Basswood Family)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account