Fiber & Cordage Sources
The engineering of tensile strength. Explore the primary providers of traditional string, rope, and weaving fiber.
The Strong Threads
Before global trade, all cordage, netting, and binding materials had to be harvested from the landscape. This collection highlights the fibrous plants that held Plains life together.
Yucca (Yucca glauca) provided coarse, strong fibers for sandals and baskets, while Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) offered finer threads for weaving and sewing. backbone of Plains Native technology.
From Stems to Strength
Explore the traditional processing of Dogbane and Yucca, and the science of the Fiber & Cordage expansion.