The most common stones used within Native American culture include: red jasper, quartz, turquoise, and obsidian. These stones have multiple uses in ceremonies, healing, weapons, tools, gifts, and jewelry. Each stone used in Native American culture holds a special and valuable meaning either spiritual or physical.
More InfoJewelry from Native Americans can be dated back as far as 8800BCE. Many of these pieces included uniquely shaped stones and shells. As the techniques and styles of Native American jewelry has changed over time, they are still made with stones and symbols that provide a deep meaning to the person who wears the piece. Every tribe has their own trademarks which separates them from other tribes. For example, the Navajo include different stones and minerals to shape them into aesthically pleasing shapes within their jewlry, whereas the Hopi focus more on craving symbols into silver.
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Arrowheads are projectile points that have sharpened tips which can inflict great damage on a person. They can be attached to a stick that can be fired from a bow, or it can be attached to a spear. Native Americans crafted arrowheads into a V-shape to serve as a tool for hunting and as a weapon during warfare. Native Americans could kill large animals such as mammoths and bison or small animals such as fish using arrowheads. Native Americans have chosen particular stones that can easily be flaked and sharpened. Most of the stones used included flint, obsidian, and chert, but sometimes Natives would even used wood. Since Native Americans are nomadic people, arrowheads can be found all over the country. As of today, Native American arrowheads are commonly gathered by collectors and archeologists. With these, archeologists use the arrowheds to furhter study Native American history.
Dancing is a big part of Native American Culture. Many religious ceremonies and dances are based on The Great Spirit, or the creator of life. Some Native Americans celebrate their traditions, religion and beliefs off the Shaman (Medicine Man) of the tribe. The reason they would base these celebrations off their Shaman is because they believe that the Shaman is a medium between the spiritual and visible world. These Shaman/ Medicine Men had the power to heal the sick, control the hunt, and see into the future. Many rituals and dances were performed to appease the ancestors or The Great Spirit. Ceremonies and Festivals include a great amount of singing, dancing, and chanting. The clothing that is worn at these festivals and ceremonies are known to have great detail. On the clothing could be: furs, feathers, color beads, and metallic bubbles.
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