KarankawaKarankawa

ByBy

Arsha Amit Arsha Amit

HousingHousingThe Karankawa tribes The Karankawa tribes

lived in huts. The huts lived in huts. The huts were made of willow-tree were made of willow-tree poles with skins and poles with skins and woven mats draped over woven mats draped over the sides. Usually one or the sides. Usually one or two sides were left open. It two sides were left open. It was easy to move. was easy to move.

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

Some natural resources that Some natural resources that were important to them were trees-were important to them were trees-to make poles, animal skins-for their to make poles, animal skins-for their huts and clothes, mud-as a mosquito huts and clothes, mud-as a mosquito repellent, water-to drink and bathe, repellent, water-to drink and bathe, cane- to make arrows, cedar-to make cane- to make arrows, cedar-to make their bows, and fish-for food.their bows, and fish-for food.

Tools WeaponsTools Weapons

The tomahawk is a The tomahawk is a small axe that is made of small axe that is made of wood, stone, and leather wood, stone, and leather string wrapping. It is used string wrapping. It is used for hunting. The bow is for hunting. The bow is made of cedar and the made of cedar and the arrows are made of cane. arrows are made of cane. They sat in canoes that They sat in canoes that were dugout from trees were dugout from trees while they fished with the while they fished with the trotline. The trotline is a trotline. The trotline is a long string with many long string with many hooks to catch many fish.hooks to catch many fish.

The tomahawk is The tomahawk is also used as a weapon.also used as a weapon.

Physical AppearancePhysical Appearance

The Karankawa men wore almost no clothing in the The Karankawa men wore almost no clothing in the Summer and hides in the Winter. They were Summer and hides in the Winter. They were about 6 ft tall. They pierced their lower lip and about 6 ft tall. They pierced their lower lip and chest. The women wore skirts of deer skin or chest. The women wore skirts of deer skin or Spanish moss. They also wore shawls of Spanish Spanish moss. They also wore shawls of Spanish moss. They were about 5’5” tall. The young boys moss. They were about 5’5” tall. The young boys tattooed their faces. The Karankawa went tattooed their faces. The Karankawa went barefoot.barefoot.

Strange CustomStrange Custom

After a battle, the Karankawa ate a part of their After a battle, the Karankawa ate a part of their dead enemies’ bodies. They thought that they would earn dead enemies’ bodies. They thought that they would earn their enemies strength by doing this.their enemies strength by doing this.

To prove one’s strength, they would take ice baths To prove one’s strength, they would take ice baths in the Winter and stand in the burning sun in the Summer.in the Winter and stand in the burning sun in the Summer.

Head flattening is a unique custom. A piece of bark Head flattening is a unique custom. A piece of bark is tied to a baby's head for a year. This causes the baby’s is tied to a baby's head for a year. This causes the baby’s head to slope slightly upward. head to slope slightly upward.

What Happened?What Happened?Are There Any Left?Are There Any Left?

The Karankawa died out in 1858. We The Karankawa died out in 1858. We do not know why.do not know why.

Where in Texas?Where in Texas?

The Karankawa lived on the gulf coast.The Karankawa lived on the gulf coast.