What is: a Burden Basket

Native American basketry is an art-form today and baskets are often museum or gallery piece or can command hundreds of dollars depending on the artisan.  They are also prized souvenirs in all shapes, sizes and decorations.  Prior to the tourist trade, though, Native baskets served a variety of uses.

The most well-known Native baskets were burden baskets.  Usually conical in shape, they were meant to carry anything and everything from water to firewood and everything in between.  The conical shape allowed the basket to rest against the wearer's back, and was attached by a strap that went over the head or forehead, or the shoulders.  Baskets were made of whatever materials that came to hand and meant to be quickly fashioned to meet a need.  Tightly woven baskets could carry water.  Loosely woven baskets could carry fish or shellfish.  Larger baskets were practical for transporting firewood or even trade goods.  Smaller baskets could be carried against the hip and were useful for gathering berries, roots or medicinal herbs.  Skillfully woven baskets were often traded among tribes along with other Native trade good such as oils, flints, or woven mats. 

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