Traveling Resource TrunksFoodSuggested Adaptations for Puzzles from the Past: Problem Solving Through Archeology 
This trunk contains several photographs and objects related to Native American foods. These items can be used to talk about: Native Americans relied on the environment to fulfill their needs at one time. Three basic methods of getting food were - hunting, gathering wild plants, and growing crops. The common denominator in these three is nature. Food needed to be preserved and stored for use. Foods such as dried corn and beans, bison jerky, and pemmican were stored in rawhide bags or containers. Many of the gardening tribes dug bell shaped pits, or caches, in which to store and hide their food supplies. Pits varied in size from six to ten feet in depth and diameter, which allowed room for storage. It was important that the pit not be raided. It was a necessity to the tribe. If animals or other individuals stole the food supply the tribe might go hungry during the winter. By drying and storing meat and plants, the Pawnee maintained a food supply when fresh food was not available. Dried food also remained usable much longer than fresh and was lighter and easier to transport. Dried mats woven from strips of pumpkin made good items for trade with tribes who did not garden. Trade between different groups existed even before European and American traders arrived. |
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