1.6 Manufacturing, Constructing, Craft, and Professional Pursuits
Accession date:
1907
Context of use:
Used in basketmaking [Lawrence E. Dawson]. Barrett field notes pp14-15 gives tatoo instrument as alternate use.
Department:
Native California (archaeology and ethnology)
Dimensions:
length 13.5 centimeters
Comment:
Samuel A. Barrett field notes, p. 70: ket, mil ket bone awl...Burn pine pitch black & place this mixed with soap root juice not!ui + name of the pine. nuc = soaproot. Root used. Mix this in sm. basket or the like & dip point of bone awl in it. Dip awl in this and insert under the skin. It appears there was no special scarification otherwise Eat no meat. It would make the tatooed part swell. Tattoo usually face only. Some also arms. Never elsewhere. When tattooing is finished, wash the face in soap ruit [sic] juice. Wash thus & stay home for 3 days. Go nowhere, do nothing, just as if sick." Photo: 15-4826. Published: BAE B78 Fig. 67.