What do you think this is?
What was it used for?
Where do you think it was made?
Answers:
What do you think this is? What was it used for?
This is a tool made of bone for crushing and softening cedar bark. Coast Salish peoples have had a deep and complex relationship with cedar, and have used cedar extensively in tools and objects for everyday use as well as items of ceremonial importance. Once cedar bark was stripped off the tree and processed by a tool like this one, it could be turned into thread or rope, and made into baskets or fishing nets.
Where do you think it was made?
It was made by members of the Makah Tribe around Neah Bay, sometime before 1935, at which point it was kindly donated to the Karshner Center collections.
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