This section contains a list of some Wampanoag tools and appliances described by early observers. Where processes of manufacture and methods of use are known and have not been more appropriately included in previous sections they will be found in the following pages. Basketry, clothing, and ornaments are thoroughly described elsewhere.
The descriptive notes are arranged in the following order: item, followed by use (where known), followed by material (where known), followed by any details of construction, etc., followed by references as to location of the data in the literature.
BOW: weapon and hunting: walnut or “wich hasell”; 5-6′ long, painted black and yellow; strung with twisted sinew thicker than European boxstrings of the time; effective range “six to seven score”. (Josselyn, p. 257; Bushnell, p. 675; Wood, pp. 97, 101; Howe, p. 71)ARROW: weapon, hunting, fishing; shaft of “young elderne”; 18″ long; made with detachable tips, the point bound to a 6-8″ piece of wood, which is then inserted in a socket in the main shaft and held by binding; fletching of long, broad, black feathers of eagle, vulture, or kite, attached with glue and binding. (Wood, p. 100; Mourt’s Relation, p. 183; Howe, p. 71)ARROW POINTS: stone—quartz (generally white), slate (Chapin, p. 3); metal—copper, iron, brass; triangular or “hart shaped” (Brereton, p. 43-44; Williams, p. 137; Wood, p. 100; Willoughby, pp. 237-39), bone (Willoughby, pp. 237-39); end of tail of horseshoe crab. (Howe, p. 120)FISHING SPEAR: shaft wood; point stone (quartz—usually white—or slate) or metal—iron, copper, (Chapin, p. 3; Brereton, pp. 43-44; Williams, p. 137; Bushnell, p. 675)LONG SPEAR: carried into battle by a chief and used for carrying back the heads of slain enemies; metal blade attached for point. (Wood, p. 95; Gookin, p. 152, Lechford, p. 120)KNIFE: handle antler; blade stone (quartz, flint, or slate) or metal; hafted by insertion of the blade into sleeve cut in handle; handle might be decorated by incised lines; two holes drilled diagonally until they meet to form an opening provide for suspending cord. (Willoughby, p. 239-40, illustrated; Chapin, p. 30)HARPOON: used in fishing. (Wood, p. 100-101; Williams, p. 137)GAMING PIECES: playingPuim; small reeds of about a foot long; 50 to 60 make up a set. (Wood, p. 83)GAMING PIECES: playingHubbub; bone dice, painted black on one side, white on the other; sets of five. (Wood, p. 83)GAMBLING TRAY: used in hubbub; carved and polished wood. (Wood, pp. 96-98)BOWL OR DISH: eating stews, etc.; wood burls, including elm and maple; well smoothed and polished, sometimes with handle carved to represent animal. (Willoughby, p. 258; Mourt’s Relation, p. 144; Morton, pp. 158-59; Bushnell, p. 675)PAIL: carrying water; birch bark; square, bail-type handle, two to three gallon capacity; made by “skillful folding” (probably sewn together). (Gookin, p. 151)HAND BASKET: use not stated; “made of crabshells wrought together”. (Mourt’s Relation, p. 144)CLAY POT: cooking; thin, about the same thickness as iron pots; sizes quart to gallon. (Morton, p. 158; Mourt’s Relation, p. 144; Wood, p. 75; Gookin p. 151)STONE BOWLS: soapstone; with or without ears or handles; known examples are rather rough of finish. (Chase, p. 900; Chapin, p. 15)KETTLE: cooking; iron, brass, copper. (Wood, p. 75; Gookin, p. 151)DRINKING CUPS: unworked shell (Fulgur canaliculata); copper, broad and shallow (“skull-shaped”). (Willoughby, pp. 237-39; Brereton, pp. 43-44)BOX: birch bark. (Bushnell, p. 675)HOE: cultivating and preparing gardens; wood and clamshell. (Williams, p. 176; Wood, p. 87; Howe, pp. 116-17)SPOON: eating stews, etc.; Wood (burls of elm, maple, or other), finely finished, handle often elaborately carved in openwork or other ornamental figures; Bone (one example), U-shaped, 104 × 41 mm, three small perforations in flat end for hafting; Deer antler; Sheet copper and brass (Willoughby, pp. 237-39, 258; Bushnell, pp. 675, 683-4; Gookin, p. 151)LADLE: burl of elm, maple, or other. (Willoughby, p. 258; Gookin, p. 151)SNOWSHOES: round, “bearpaw” type, rectangular weaving[B]; three crossbars; netting attached to frame by wrapping. The toe hole, characteristic of most North American snowshoes, is lacking. (Davidson, pp. 31-2, 96)MOULDS: for casting pipes, buttons, small ornaments, shot and bullets of all sizes; slate or other suitable stone; both one and two piece. (Willoughby, p. 243-44; Bradford, p. 52)CRADLE BOARD: wood (perhaps also bark); forked shaped ends, dimensions 2 × 1 feet; braided strap for tying on child; furs for covers. (Bushnell, p. 675; Wood, p. 108; Morton, p. 147)TORCHES: as fishing lures and for lighting inside houses; birch bark or pitch pine; splints or cloven pieces bound into a bundle. (Bushnell, p. 675; Willoughby, p. 294)FISH HOOKS: bone—one form consists of the shank bone of a fawn, ends cut off to make a tubular shape 120 mm. long; line is looped through the tube; catches by fish swallowing. Wood with a spear-shaped piece of bone attached at more or less right angle, producing a fang-shape; point lashed on with hemp. Iron (imported ready made from Europe). (Bushnell, p. 675; Howe, pp. 110-15; Wood, p. 100)NET SINKERS: for keeping stationary net in place; stone. (Chapin, p. 11)FISH DRYING SCAFFOLDS: no descriptions. (Wood, p. 107)ROASTING SPIT: for cooking meat over the fire inside the house; stick of wood, notched at one end, other end sharpened to stick into ground. (Wood, p. 75)BUTTONS: pewter, made by casting; decorated. (Illustrated in Willoughby, p. 243, fig. 131)LARGE PIPES: carved wood, stone (probably soapstone), carvings to represent men and animals; 2 feet long. (Williams, pp. 72-3)SMALLER PIPES: soapstone (made in imitation of the English style), pewter, clay, brass, combinations of these—stone with brass bound bowl, clay stem with bowl of copper. (Williams, pp. 72-3; Willoughby, pp. 243-4, 240; Chapin, p. 17; Brereton, p. 38)PESTLE: for grinding; stone; one example with top carved to represent an animal’s head. (Bushnell, p. 675; Willoughby, pp. 237-9)STONE MORTAR: containing material during grinding (corn specifically mentioned); sized from immovable boulder to a smaller portable style to cup size (for grinding pigments).WOODEN MORTAR: used with stone pestle for corn and probably other uses similar to stone mortar; trough-shaped. (Bushnell, p. 675)ADZE: woodworking; wood handle and stone head; head smooth and convex on one side, often double-grooved on the other side for hafting; sizes run from two to ten inches in length, also with imported European iron head. (Willoughby, 237-39)AXE: woodworking; wood handle, stone head; differ quite markedly in weight, thickness, polish, workmanship, and size; approximately bi-symmetrical; large ones grooved to hold sinews that bind head to handle. Iron head; both axe and hatchet size (from Europeans). (Williams; p. 176; Chapin, pp. 6-7).DRILLS: for beads; stone, later metal. (Williams, p. 176)SCRAPERS: woodworking (probably something similar used in skin preparation); clam and oyster shell. (Wood, p. 102)CHISEL: beaver incisor hafted onto some sort of handle. (Willoughby, pp. 237-39)AWL: bone. (Willoughby, pp. 237-39)NEEDLE: sewing mats together; bone (“splinter bone of a cranes legge”) half of the split rib of a deer. (Morton, p. 135; Willoughby, pp. 244-45)BAG FOR CARRYING PARCHED CORNMEAL: leather; long pouch worn around the waist. (Wood, p. 76)TOBACCO BAG: for carrying pipe and tobacco; worn hung down the back. (Williams; pp. 72-3)QUIVER: contain arrows; woven bulrushes; length one yard; one is described as having a decorative band about one foot wide on the top and about six inches wide at the bottom of the quiver, in red diamonds and patterns of other colors. (Winslow, p. 307; Howe, p. 71)CLUB: weapon. (Gookin, p. 152)TOMAHAWK: weapon; wood handle with sharp stone fastened into it. (Gookin, p. 152)SHIELD: bark. (Gookin, p. 152)COMB: one example, made of moose horn, perhaps unique in shape, consisted of small set of teeth at the end of a very long handle. (Bushnell, p. 683)DUGOUT CANOE: pine or chestnut; size variable—some 40-50 feet long will carry 20 people; others are about one and a half to two feet wide and twenty feet long; hollowed out of tree trunks. (Wood, p. 102; Gookin, p. 152)BIRCH BARK CANOES: sizes probably various—one that would carry nine passengers was 17′ × 4′, weighing about 60 pounds; another had a seating capacity of five or six. Seams were closed by sewing “oziers or twigs” and pitched; ends were pointed, fore and aft, but the bow curved slightly upwards. Inside were thin, broad ribs. (Wood, p. 102; Pring, p. 58; Gookin, pp. 152-53)CANOE PADDLES: ash or maple; lightweight, length about two yards, flat on the ends. (Pring, p. 58)SAILS: used occasionally; mast of small pole; consisted of skins of the sort used for mantles, one or two of these used at a time. (Williams, p. 133)TOYS: bow and arrow: bow of a stick and arrows of reeds; Pottery vessels (miniature). (Wood, pp. 97-98; Willoughby, pp. 237-39)SCAFFOLD FOR HANGING POTS OVER FIRE: see p. 64FIRE-MAKING KITFISHING LINEFISHING NETEUROPEAN IMPORTS: in addition to those already mentioned, the following items of European technology were obtained and used by the Wampanoags: tin cups; pails of tin and iron; wooden chests; glass bottles; weapons—guns, pistols, sword and rapier blades, hatchets, and axes. (Gookin, pp. 151-52; Mourt’s Relation, p. 144)
BOW: weapon and hunting: walnut or “wich hasell”; 5-6′ long, painted black and yellow; strung with twisted sinew thicker than European boxstrings of the time; effective range “six to seven score”. (Josselyn, p. 257; Bushnell, p. 675; Wood, pp. 97, 101; Howe, p. 71)
ARROW: weapon, hunting, fishing; shaft of “young elderne”; 18″ long; made with detachable tips, the point bound to a 6-8″ piece of wood, which is then inserted in a socket in the main shaft and held by binding; fletching of long, broad, black feathers of eagle, vulture, or kite, attached with glue and binding. (Wood, p. 100; Mourt’s Relation, p. 183; Howe, p. 71)
ARROW POINTS: stone—quartz (generally white), slate (Chapin, p. 3); metal—copper, iron, brass; triangular or “hart shaped” (Brereton, p. 43-44; Williams, p. 137; Wood, p. 100; Willoughby, pp. 237-39), bone (Willoughby, pp. 237-39); end of tail of horseshoe crab. (Howe, p. 120)
FISHING SPEAR: shaft wood; point stone (quartz—usually white—or slate) or metal—iron, copper, (Chapin, p. 3; Brereton, pp. 43-44; Williams, p. 137; Bushnell, p. 675)
LONG SPEAR: carried into battle by a chief and used for carrying back the heads of slain enemies; metal blade attached for point. (Wood, p. 95; Gookin, p. 152, Lechford, p. 120)
KNIFE: handle antler; blade stone (quartz, flint, or slate) or metal; hafted by insertion of the blade into sleeve cut in handle; handle might be decorated by incised lines; two holes drilled diagonally until they meet to form an opening provide for suspending cord. (Willoughby, p. 239-40, illustrated; Chapin, p. 30)
HARPOON: used in fishing. (Wood, p. 100-101; Williams, p. 137)
GAMING PIECES: playingPuim; small reeds of about a foot long; 50 to 60 make up a set. (Wood, p. 83)
GAMING PIECES: playingHubbub; bone dice, painted black on one side, white on the other; sets of five. (Wood, p. 83)
GAMBLING TRAY: used in hubbub; carved and polished wood. (Wood, pp. 96-98)
BOWL OR DISH: eating stews, etc.; wood burls, including elm and maple; well smoothed and polished, sometimes with handle carved to represent animal. (Willoughby, p. 258; Mourt’s Relation, p. 144; Morton, pp. 158-59; Bushnell, p. 675)
PAIL: carrying water; birch bark; square, bail-type handle, two to three gallon capacity; made by “skillful folding” (probably sewn together). (Gookin, p. 151)
HAND BASKET: use not stated; “made of crabshells wrought together”. (Mourt’s Relation, p. 144)
CLAY POT: cooking; thin, about the same thickness as iron pots; sizes quart to gallon. (Morton, p. 158; Mourt’s Relation, p. 144; Wood, p. 75; Gookin p. 151)
STONE BOWLS: soapstone; with or without ears or handles; known examples are rather rough of finish. (Chase, p. 900; Chapin, p. 15)
KETTLE: cooking; iron, brass, copper. (Wood, p. 75; Gookin, p. 151)
DRINKING CUPS: unworked shell (Fulgur canaliculata); copper, broad and shallow (“skull-shaped”). (Willoughby, pp. 237-39; Brereton, pp. 43-44)
BOX: birch bark. (Bushnell, p. 675)
HOE: cultivating and preparing gardens; wood and clamshell. (Williams, p. 176; Wood, p. 87; Howe, pp. 116-17)
SPOON: eating stews, etc.; Wood (burls of elm, maple, or other), finely finished, handle often elaborately carved in openwork or other ornamental figures; Bone (one example), U-shaped, 104 × 41 mm, three small perforations in flat end for hafting; Deer antler; Sheet copper and brass (Willoughby, pp. 237-39, 258; Bushnell, pp. 675, 683-4; Gookin, p. 151)
LADLE: burl of elm, maple, or other. (Willoughby, p. 258; Gookin, p. 151)
SNOWSHOES: round, “bearpaw” type, rectangular weaving[B]; three crossbars; netting attached to frame by wrapping. The toe hole, characteristic of most North American snowshoes, is lacking. (Davidson, pp. 31-2, 96)
MOULDS: for casting pipes, buttons, small ornaments, shot and bullets of all sizes; slate or other suitable stone; both one and two piece. (Willoughby, p. 243-44; Bradford, p. 52)
CRADLE BOARD: wood (perhaps also bark); forked shaped ends, dimensions 2 × 1 feet; braided strap for tying on child; furs for covers. (Bushnell, p. 675; Wood, p. 108; Morton, p. 147)
TORCHES: as fishing lures and for lighting inside houses; birch bark or pitch pine; splints or cloven pieces bound into a bundle. (Bushnell, p. 675; Willoughby, p. 294)
FISH HOOKS: bone—one form consists of the shank bone of a fawn, ends cut off to make a tubular shape 120 mm. long; line is looped through the tube; catches by fish swallowing. Wood with a spear-shaped piece of bone attached at more or less right angle, producing a fang-shape; point lashed on with hemp. Iron (imported ready made from Europe). (Bushnell, p. 675; Howe, pp. 110-15; Wood, p. 100)
NET SINKERS: for keeping stationary net in place; stone. (Chapin, p. 11)
FISH DRYING SCAFFOLDS: no descriptions. (Wood, p. 107)
ROASTING SPIT: for cooking meat over the fire inside the house; stick of wood, notched at one end, other end sharpened to stick into ground. (Wood, p. 75)
BUTTONS: pewter, made by casting; decorated. (Illustrated in Willoughby, p. 243, fig. 131)
LARGE PIPES: carved wood, stone (probably soapstone), carvings to represent men and animals; 2 feet long. (Williams, pp. 72-3)
SMALLER PIPES: soapstone (made in imitation of the English style), pewter, clay, brass, combinations of these—stone with brass bound bowl, clay stem with bowl of copper. (Williams, pp. 72-3; Willoughby, pp. 243-4, 240; Chapin, p. 17; Brereton, p. 38)
PESTLE: for grinding; stone; one example with top carved to represent an animal’s head. (Bushnell, p. 675; Willoughby, pp. 237-9)
STONE MORTAR: containing material during grinding (corn specifically mentioned); sized from immovable boulder to a smaller portable style to cup size (for grinding pigments).
WOODEN MORTAR: used with stone pestle for corn and probably other uses similar to stone mortar; trough-shaped. (Bushnell, p. 675)
ADZE: woodworking; wood handle and stone head; head smooth and convex on one side, often double-grooved on the other side for hafting; sizes run from two to ten inches in length, also with imported European iron head. (Willoughby, 237-39)
AXE: woodworking; wood handle, stone head; differ quite markedly in weight, thickness, polish, workmanship, and size; approximately bi-symmetrical; large ones grooved to hold sinews that bind head to handle. Iron head; both axe and hatchet size (from Europeans). (Williams; p. 176; Chapin, pp. 6-7).
DRILLS: for beads; stone, later metal. (Williams, p. 176)
SCRAPERS: woodworking (probably something similar used in skin preparation); clam and oyster shell. (Wood, p. 102)
CHISEL: beaver incisor hafted onto some sort of handle. (Willoughby, pp. 237-39)
AWL: bone. (Willoughby, pp. 237-39)
NEEDLE: sewing mats together; bone (“splinter bone of a cranes legge”) half of the split rib of a deer. (Morton, p. 135; Willoughby, pp. 244-45)
BAG FOR CARRYING PARCHED CORNMEAL: leather; long pouch worn around the waist. (Wood, p. 76)
TOBACCO BAG: for carrying pipe and tobacco; worn hung down the back. (Williams; pp. 72-3)
QUIVER: contain arrows; woven bulrushes; length one yard; one is described as having a decorative band about one foot wide on the top and about six inches wide at the bottom of the quiver, in red diamonds and patterns of other colors. (Winslow, p. 307; Howe, p. 71)
CLUB: weapon. (Gookin, p. 152)
TOMAHAWK: weapon; wood handle with sharp stone fastened into it. (Gookin, p. 152)
SHIELD: bark. (Gookin, p. 152)
COMB: one example, made of moose horn, perhaps unique in shape, consisted of small set of teeth at the end of a very long handle. (Bushnell, p. 683)
DUGOUT CANOE: pine or chestnut; size variable—some 40-50 feet long will carry 20 people; others are about one and a half to two feet wide and twenty feet long; hollowed out of tree trunks. (Wood, p. 102; Gookin, p. 152)
BIRCH BARK CANOES: sizes probably various—one that would carry nine passengers was 17′ × 4′, weighing about 60 pounds; another had a seating capacity of five or six. Seams were closed by sewing “oziers or twigs” and pitched; ends were pointed, fore and aft, but the bow curved slightly upwards. Inside were thin, broad ribs. (Wood, p. 102; Pring, p. 58; Gookin, pp. 152-53)
CANOE PADDLES: ash or maple; lightweight, length about two yards, flat on the ends. (Pring, p. 58)
SAILS: used occasionally; mast of small pole; consisted of skins of the sort used for mantles, one or two of these used at a time. (Williams, p. 133)
TOYS: bow and arrow: bow of a stick and arrows of reeds; Pottery vessels (miniature). (Wood, pp. 97-98; Willoughby, pp. 237-39)
SCAFFOLD FOR HANGING POTS OVER FIRE: see p. 64
FIRE-MAKING KIT
FISHING LINE
FISHING NET
EUROPEAN IMPORTS: in addition to those already mentioned, the following items of European technology were obtained and used by the Wampanoags: tin cups; pails of tin and iron; wooden chests; glass bottles; weapons—guns, pistols, sword and rapier blades, hatchets, and axes. (Gookin, pp. 151-52; Mourt’s Relation, p. 144)