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A031 - Trail Marker - Artist: Don Long; 561-34 - Description: There are many types of tools and weapons that were used by Native Americans. Trail markers are one of those tools and were important to a tribe when war arose. War was not a common thing for the Native American because they were peaceful people. They also did not have adequate arms and did not feel it was necessary to fight hand to hand. Trail markers were not used as a weapon but rather as a guide. The tribe would split up - - half going at one time and half going at a later time. The first group of warriors would travel a certain way and either hang the markers from trees or stick them into the ground. The later group would follow the markers and know that their friends and family had been there. The trail markers that were hanging from trees have a flat end. The markers that were stuck in the ground had a sharp arrowhead on the bottom. This arrowhead end was easier to force into the hard ground since it was very sharp. If it so happened that enemies attacked, the pointed trail markers could be used as a weapon to injure or kill them. In desperate times, the pointed arrowhead trail markers could be used to kill small animals for food. Located towards the top of the trail marker is a Medicine Wheel. This wheel represents the never-ending circle of life. It is divided into four sections. Each section symbolizes the four directions of the earth - North, South, East, and West. The skulls and the antlers used were the plentiful food of the area or may have symbolized the maker’s tribe. Native Americans used the small skulls for trail markers saving the larger bear and antelope skulls for their dance sticks. The feathers and colors of beadwork made it distinguishable by the fellow tribe members as belonging to them. Ideally the trail markers were created by the tribes to be used during both peaceful and war times. This Trail Marker does not have an arrowhead point. It has a length of 32” and is 8” wide. It is light tan leather with multi-colored beads. This Native American creation comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
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