Weaving Tools

I chose to study the stone and bone artifacts that were displayed in the McClung museum, because I felt like both of those materials were extremely useful tools for Native Americans living in the Appalachian region. I was specifically drawn to the wooden weaving tools, that were used to make blankets and quilts, because those served as such significant importance for survival. Without blankets and quilts, the Native Americans would not have been able to make it through the winter. I also found it fascinating how blankets and quilts are still so apparent in the world today. We may not use the same large wooden needle to weave the blankets together, but blankets are still such a significant part of our survival. Some quilts are still woven together by hand, but now with modern day technology most quilts and blankets are made by machines that are designed to create masses of perfectly constructed quilts in minimal time. 

 

Wooden Tools used for Weaving Blankets, Quilts

Modern Day Weaving Machines

McClung Museum

​This image is of woven baskets made by ancient Native Americans in the Woodland time period of history. They weaved and thatched cane and other weed-like vegetation to make containers such as baskets, daily tools, bedding mats, rugs, and even roofing for their houses.This is an image of a modern day home that is using cane as a wall covering. Cane, or similar materials, are more commonly used as decorative, although some regions may use this material for structural purposes due to availability

​My artifact type(s) were gourd/cane/textile.

I specifically chose to research the use of cane for this journal entry between modern times and prehistoric times within the Native American tribes in Tennessee, specifically within the Historic, Woodland, and Mississippian eras. Although the use of cane, or similar materials,have not changed in terms of the availability and application the major difference between these two time periods is the concept of necessity.

In prehistoric times, cane, clay, stone, and gourds werethe only materials around to produces containers with. In the earliest times of  known history, the Native Americans were nomadic therefor weaving basketry was the most convenient method considering its and durability.

In modern day, cane, although still used in practical applications, is not a necessary material in every day life. Cane has become more of a decorative​ material that can now be used as "non-structural" items, including household objects, wall coverings, jewelry, etc.

Weaving with Cane

Our History 212 class went to a museum called McClung Museum tucked in a corner on the campus of the University of Tennessee.  I wouldn't have known it was there, but they have an impressive collection of artifacts from Cherokee tribes local to Tennessee.  

Evidence of weaving was found in the Woodland Era and continued there after.

On the right are examples of Tennessee River Cane.  

You can hand split more than four straws from a large cane. After the cane is split, the underlying plant tissue must be stripped away from the outer "skin" of the sections, which are afterwards called "straws."  Each straw is trimmed vertically to make the widths even.  After these thin pliable straws are dried, they are ready for use, or storage. 1

Below is a evidence that these tribes weaved mats made of the River Cane and used them in their daily lives.  It was recovered from a dig where they deduced that a house using this material had burned down.  Based on locations of such remains, they determined that these mats were used for comfort and well as some protective aspects; such as rain.  

The picture below is a remake of a cane mat.  The colors were picked for asthetics probably based on the colors that could be retrieved from flowers, plants and berries from the time period, but it is believed, based on details in art from that time period, that they did use dye to enhance the beauty of the weave.

It didn't take much imagination to conclude that rattan in general is probably directly influenced by this era of weaving.  I would assume the factory labor has little knowledge or concern as to the origin of this art form.  I find it fascinating that the appearance doesn't seem to have changed all that much today.




Colleen Trapuzzano - Art History 2121 - Thomas A Colvin - Cane and Palmetto Basketry

Stone of the Native Americans in Tennessee

One of my classes, IDS212, went on a field trip to McClung Museum, which is located on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville. The exhibit is called Archaeology and the Native Peoples of Tennessee. It is there that we picked different materials, such as bone, ceramics and wood, to examine objects that the Natives used. I chose stone to look at more intensely. Arrowheads were the artifacts that interested me the most because there were so many different styles and shapes, plus they used them for hunting as well as for carving bones. The different pieces of stone were knapped or flaked so they could be used for tools. In today's time, there are many people that still hunt, for food and/or sport, and we have seen many technological advancements that make tools/weapons easier to use. During the Archaic and Paleonindian periods, these arrowheads were a necessity for survival so the people could hunt for food. Now, hunting is no longer the main way in which people get food. Even though these hunting tools have changed, they still have the same purpose and are equipped with the sharp edges that also can cause harm. 

Arrowheads that the Native Americans used for hunting.

Modern day arrow.

Stones For Hunting

The other day, my Interior Design class had the privilege to explore the McClung Museum which is located on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus. When we arrived, we were surrounded by artifacts from various time periods. Once everyone settled in, our tour guide showed us around the Native American exhibit. We learned about all the different uses for stone and bone in the different time periods. In the Paleoindian Period, the use of stones to hunt/carve animals. Stones where also used for home appliances such as ovens. Today, we use knives made of metal to hunt and carve animals. The spearheads were made by taking a denser rocks and smashing the softer rock and chipping away pieces until they formed a sharp edged point. 

Stones used for hunting in the Paleoindian Period