The area between the Cascade Mountains and the Rocky Mountains in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia, and Western Montana is known as the Plateau Culture area. The Cashmere Museum in Cashmere, Washington has several exhibits of American Indian artifacts collected in the Columbia River area of central Washington. Shown below are some of the artifacts in exhibit 213.
Mauls
These mauls—basically hand-held hammers—have different sizes and weights and were probably used for different tasks, such as driving wedges in woodworking and striking antler butts in flaking obsidian or chalcedony for stone blades and points.
Clubs
While clubs are often classified as “war” clubs, the Plateau Indians were a fishing people and clubs were used to kill large fish that had been netted or snared.
Bone Awls
Awls are used for poking holes in leather or cloth.
Beads
Pipes
Bone tools
More Ancient America
Ancient America: Paleoindian stone tools in Washington's Plateau area
Ancient America: Avonlea, the early bow hunters
Ancient America: The Old Copper People
Ancient America: Solar Calendars
Ancient America: Bears (revised)
Ancient America: American Indians at Rancho La Brea
Ancient America: The Grand Canyon
Ancient America: A very brief overview of the Hopewell moundbuilders