Plateau

I.  Who were the Plateau peoples?  Lived in the Great Basin area and on north-western Plateau.  Shoshoni, Yakima, Klikitat, Wishram, Klamath, Bannock,  Nez Pierce, Paiute, Ute.

A. Environment very harsh, soil poor in most places, but also lush environs around places of water.

1. Resulted in sparse peopling.  Oldest known occupation 9,000 B.P.

a. Coprolites, textiles, mummy (willow leaf), packrat nests at Wendover etc.

b. Waves of successive occupation. 

i. mixed populations in later times.

c. Mostly Shoshone spoken believed to have emigrated from south-central plains in “Shoshone wedge.”

d. Simple burials with few artifacts interred.

e. Emphasis not on endless accumulation of personal possessions.

2. Relied on tule root and pollen, annual seeds, pine nuts, agave and yucca roots, wokas seed, rabbit and rodents.

B. Architecture mostly wikiup of woven reed mats over wooden-pole frame.

1. Early occupations cave centered.

2. Replaced by teepees and canvas tents in historic period.

C. Personal adornment varied by season.

1. Men wore breechcloth and leggings when traveling away from home.

2. Women favored a two piece dress (skirt and blouse), and tall boot moccasins in cold season.

3. Hair centrally parted and braided.

4. Carried bandolier bags or parfleches.

a. B bags woven on loom of dyed corn husk, designs are different on both faces.  Modern times are wool yarn.

5. Spectacular bead work, Wishram wedding veil.

D.  Horse finery in historic times.

E.  Hide tanning was well developed here, and designs were frequently painted on in red, white, blue, yellow, black  pigments.

1. Designs frequently rely on bordered color fields and geometric designs.

F.  Fiber most used was the tule.

1.  Rope and cordage of tule.  Twine of milkweed.

2.  Woven mats for sitting, sleeping, house siding in winter, wrapping the dead.

3.  Baskets made in amazing variety.  Twined and coiled both typical.

a. Still-water transport - balsas and rafts.

b.  Food gathering, prep, serving, and, storage.  Most used here.

c.  Traps, weirs usually made by men.

d.  Pitched water bottles, with narrow necks. Usually, made of willow.

e.  Imbrication with colored barks and “coffin” shapes from Frazier River area.

f.  Cradle boards.

4.  Weather gear - gaiters, shoes, capes, leggings.

5.  Clothing

a.  Cloaks and footgear for all.

b.  Leggings, for men.

c.  Skirts of shredded tules for women.

d.  Hats for women.

6.  Duck decoys.