The Hutching's Museum houses a collection of artifacts from many groups of Native American People. Among this collection are artifacts from the Fremont and Anasazi people. This exhibit features several different artifacts that show us the technology and resources that the ancient people had. Some of the artifacts that are showcased in this exhibit range from hunting tools, clothing, pottery, and a couple plant resources.
Hunting Tools
San Juan Anasazi Animal Snare Fragment San Juan Anasazi Animal Snare Fragment (c. 700 - 1100) by San Juan AnasaziHutchings Museum Institute
Native American Knife Handle (Jaw bone)
This particular jaw bone is most likely from a sheep. It also looks to be having some work done on it near the right side of it. It could possibly be a knife handle.
Native American War Club
This is from the Plains Native Americans, such as the Crow, Blackfeet, Sioux, or Kayenta. The glass beads are trade items, meaning they were not Native American to begin with. They were brought here by people from overseas. The rock has a goat or deer hide on it, with a rough stitching that was done in thread, rather than sinew. It is not a coup stick, but a club. It seems to be more ceremonial due to the amount of beading that it has because it is not practical to fight with that many beads. This can be dated to the late 1800's (1880s and 1890s).
Native American Clothing: Footwear
Native American Tall White Boots with Beaded Flowers
The tall moccasins are ceremonial for women and bridal use, because they are white.
Native American Fur-Lined Moccasins
These Moccasins are from the northwest, like Washington State.
Native American Beaded Moccasins
These moccasins were hand-stitched and decorated with glass beads. These were worn by central or northern plains Native Americans. The time period on these is the 1880's (they are in good condition).
Native American Blue Beaded Shoes
Glass beads are used.
Native American Baskets
Paiute Water Tus
This was used for either carrying water or grain.
Apache Water Tus
This is definitely an olla, because there is pitch on it to help waterproof it. This dates from the 1500's-to now.
Native American Pottery
Anasazi Black on White Bowl Anasazi Black on White Bowl (c. 700 - 1300) by AnasaziHutchings Museum Institute
Anasazi Cup
This is a black on white flat-bottomed cup used by the San Juan Anasazi Native Americans.
Kayenta Anasazi Plain Ware Pitcher with Stopper Kayenta Anasazi Plain Ware Pitcher with Stopper (1956) by Kayenta AnasaziHutchings Museum Institute
Chaco Anasazi Flat Bottomed Pitcher Chaco Anasazi Flat Bottomed Pitcher (1956) by Chaco AnasaziHutchings Museum Institute
Anasazi Corrugated Olla
This Olla is used as a cooking pot.
Anasazi Pot Containing Beads
This is from the Pueblo V time period. There are holes drilled in the sides to hang it up.
Anasazi Corrugated Olla Anasazi Corrugated Olla (c. 700 - 1100) by AnasaziHutchings Museum Institute
Zuni Pottery Zuni Pottery BacksideHutchings Museum Institute
Pueblo Pottery
Defined and detailed painting on pottery helps to date this piece as being on newer side. Whereas, pottery that has not as detailed designs, are found in an older time period than this piece.
Zuni Pottery
This dates to the late Pueblo V time period.
Pueblo Pottery (2) Pueblo Pottery (2) (1956) by PuebloHutchings Museum Institute
Native American Yucca Plants
Yucca plants, in their many varieties grow across the Americas. They have tough and pointy sword shaped leaves. Fibers from this plant were used by Native Americans to make baskets, rope sandals, shampoo, and soap. Young flower stalks tasted like baked apples; cooked blossoms tasted like sweet peas.
Native American Food Source: Squash
Squash was a main food source for Ancestral Pueblo people. Combined with maize and beans, squash provided complex carbohydrates, fatty acids, and amino acids, allowing the people to thrive on a primarily plant-based diet.
The artifacts featured in this exhibit come from the Hutching's Native American Collection.
Created by Hutching's Museum Staff Curators
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.