44 



BUEEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



Lblll. 41 



Planting-sticks. 



A few sticks which resemble those used by the Hopi as dibbles 

 were collected at Spruce-tree House. These measure several feet in 

 length; they are flat at one end, while the opposite 

 end is pointed and rubbed down to a sharp edge. 

 Some of these implements were slightly bent at one 

 extremit)'. 



Miscellaneous Objects 



Among various Avooden objects found at Spruce- 

 tree House may be mentioned sticks resembling prayer 

 offerings and others which may have been employed in 

 ceremonials (fig. 18.) 



A fragment of a primitive fire-stick (fig. 19) was 

 obtained from the northern ref use-heajD and near it 

 were straight sticks that undoubtedly served as fire- 

 drills. There were one or two needles (fig. 20), made 

 of hard wood, suggesting weaving or some similar 

 process. A fragment of an arrow Avas unearthed in 

 the debris of the northern refuse-heap. 



Fig. 19. Primitive flrc-stick. 



Fig. 20. Wooden needle. 



FABRICS 



The 3'^ucca plant, which grows wild in the canyons and level places 

 of the Mesa Verde, furnishes a tough fiber which the j^rehistoric 

 people of Spruce-tree House used in the manufacture of various 



fabrics. Small packages 

 of this fiber and cords 

 made of the same material 

 were found in the refuse- 

 heap and in the houses; 

 these were apparently ob- 

 tained by heating and 

 chewing the leaves, after 

 which the fiber was drawn 

 out into cords or braided 

 into strings. 

 A braided cord was also found attached to the handles of jars, 

 and this fiber was a favorite one in mending pottery. It was almost 

 universally employed in weaving cloth netting and other fabrics, 



Fig. 21. Belt. 



