Tools Topics – Access Genealogy

Indian Axe

The term “Indian Axe” refers to various stone implements used by ancient Native Americans during their hunter-gatherer phase. Unlike modern axes, these tools were not designed for cutting trees outright; instead, fire was the primary method for felling. The Indians used a specialized stone tool, called Agakwut, to remove charred wood after applying heat. The instruments varied in size, even accommodating children, and facilitated canoe and palisade construction. Notably, fire remained a critical component of their woodworking techniques well into the colonial period.

Corn Pestle or Hand Bray Stone

Stone Pestle and Copper Chisel - Plate 21

The cultivation of zea maize was central to the Indigenous tribes of America, particularly in the Mississippi Valley and northeastern regions. Women would laboriously crush the grain in stone mortars to prepare coarse meals like samp and succotash. Evidence of this practice is found in ancient pestles made from grauwacke rock, often weighing five to six pounds. For warriors, maize was finely ground, mixed with sugar, and packed for sustenance during long journeys, serving as a lightweight meal that could be transformed into soup with water.

Stone Block Prints

The cloth-making art of the Pacific Islanders involves crafting fabric from the fibrous inner bark of trees, which is processed using wooden or stone mallets. The resulting thin pieces are dyed with vegetable pigments, and patterns are applied via block prints. The color is solely surface-level, showing no signs of immersion dyeing. Examined specimens from the Sandwich Islands demonstrate enduring color quality. This technique is notably similar to methods employed in ancient Mexico and Peru, and evidence of block printing has also been found in the Mississippi Valley.

Rope Maker’s Reed

The Indian tribes possessed the art of twine and rope making, utilizing the inner bark of forest shrubs, despite the absence of hemp. This skill is rooted in ancient traditions, evidenced by the manufacture of fishing nets and tools for binding. Archaeological findings, such as bone shuttles and stone reeds from sites like the Grave Creek Mound, suggest the use of a primitive rope-making apparatus. Notably, they crafted two distinct instruments that aid in the twisting of strands, showcasing their craftsmanship and ingenuity.

Funeral Food Vase

The tradition of offering food at graves, rooted in the ancient belief of dual souls, persists among some Native American tribes. Historically, this involved placing a small, unglazed vase made from dark clay and shells near, but not in, the grave, typically under a covering of barks. Many graves in regions such as Tennessee and Florida contain these vases, occasionally with pierced bottoms, suggesting their use for feasting rituals in honor of the departed. This practice highlights a widespread cultural custom dating back to ancient times.

Objects of Indian Art and Tools

In the Ohio Valley, excavations of minor mounds unearthed carved steatite tubes, possibly used for suction. The area also revealed ornamental mica, thick pottery possibly for metallurgical uses, bird bones for baldric-making, and mineralized wooden domestic utensils. Florida mounds contained fragments of a ceremonial pouring utensil. Additionally, the Algonquin Indians revered naturally shaped boulders as idols, while various artifacts, including an ancient chisel and copper tools, were discovered, illustrating the sophisticated craftsmanship of early Native American cultures.

Bone Shuttle

The bone shuttle, used by aboriginal peoples for crafting coarse fabrics like mats and tapestries, illustrates a pre-European art form now largely forgotten due to European manufacturing. A notable example, found around 1835 in a grave at Fort Niagara, dates back to before the fortress’s construction in 1678. This finely polished bone artifact measures ten and a half inches and features a unique design with a double barbed head, showcasing the ingenuity of indigenous textile techniques prior to outside influence.

Aishkun, or Bone Awl

Awls, Mortar and Corn Cracker - Plate 27

Before the discovery of dressed leather, ancient tribes relied on sharp tools like the aishkun, or bone awl, to create clothing and footwear. The sewing technique involved making holes in the leather edges and using deer sinews for stitching, resembling modern cordwaining rather than tailoring. Awls came from horns or bones, and while now mainly replaced by metal needles supplied by civilization, they remain in use for coarse work among remote tribes. This highlights the evolution of sewing practices linked to the development of clothing materials.

Stone Bill, or Tomahawk

The pointed mace, discovered in ancient North American graves, features a semi-lunar design, functioning as a weapon for early warriors. Unlike the slicing methods of the agakwut and tomahawk, this mace was designed to pierce the skull through its sharp points and the warrior’s force. Various specimens, including one from Tonawanda, New York, exhibit impressive craftsmanship in siliceous slate. These early weapons signify a primitive society’s combat techniques prior to more sophisticated arms, highlighting a critical phase in pre-Columbian warfare.

Mortar

The artifacts depicted in Plate 27 include essential tools used by indigenous peoples for food preparation and pottery making. Notably, the mortar, discovered in the Seneca region, showcases its dual purpose: crushing zea maize and grinding materials like quartz and feldspar for pottery tempering. The corn-cracker from the Paquea tribe, crafted from durable stone, further illustrates the ingenuity of these cultures. These tools highlight the complex interactions with the environment and the sophisticated practices of the aboriginal peoples of North America.

Ice Cutters

In the northern tribes, an iron chisel has replaced the traditional horn used for ice fishing and beaver hunting during winter. This tool is a vital part of their customs, especially among lake tribes reliant on fish for sustenance. Historically, the horn, made from deer or elk antlers, was affixed to a wooden handle. The transition to iron chisels marks an evolution in their practices, highlighting how indigenous methods adapt over time while maintaining essential survival techniques.

Fleshing Tools or Stone Chisel

Ancient Mace Pipe and Fleshing Instruments - Plate11

In ancient practices of skinning, hunters often left remnants of flesh on hides due to time constraints and concerns about damaging the skin. Women typically undertook the duty of skin preparation, using a rudimentary stone tool resembling a chisel. This blunt-edge instrument allowed for the careful removal of flesh without risking the integrity of the hide. Various specimens of these tools, including those discovered in Missouri and Ohio, demonstrate the craftsmanship in their creation, reflecting the importance of effective skin processing in early societies.

Household Utensils of the Plains Indians

Plains Indian tribes employed various methods for cooking before the introduction of metal pots and kettles, typically utilizing techniques such as boiling food in animal paunches or heated stones. Notably, tribes like the Blackfoot and Assiniboin demonstrated unique boiling practices, while others relied on methods like broiling and baking in holes. Household utensils included buffalo horn spoons and wooden bowls, with tools typically made from bone and stone. The advancement from traditional implements to metal tools occurred rapidly with European trade influences.