How the Costanoans Made Use of the Things in Nature
- 1). Fishing and hunting were important for the Costanoan people. They fed on small game, deer, fish, birds, eggs and shellfish, as well as nuts, mushrooms, berries and seeds.
- 2). The Costanoans crafted huts annually or biannually. Huts were made out of grass, ferns, clay, straw and tule. Willow branches were used to tie poles together for their huts. The huts were made out of slabs of redwood or bark, layered together to form a cone. Some of the homes would house up to 200 people. The Costanoans would burn the huts when it was time to craft a new one.
- 3). Weaving was a creative activity done to form baskets and bowls necessary to carry supplies. These containers were woven from dried grasses and flexible willow branches. The Costanoans were patient crafters and are known for beautiful basketry.
- 4). Boating and rafting were also important to the Costanoan way of life. They built their rafts out of tule and their boats were built from balsa wood.
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