kansas_volunteer
45 Cal.
There was some recent discussion here of the PC-ness of packbaskets and other packs for reinactors.
It made me curious, so I contactacted the Museum of the Adirondacks and inquired about the history of the packbasket.
There is a long tradition of use of packbaskets by both Europeans and Paleoimmigrant Americans (NDNs.) But,for the Adirondack packbasket in particular, there is reference to packbaskets in the region as early as 1830, but most are of 1880 vintage of later.
The Abanaki Indians claim to have crafted the first baskets, and that was relatively late in history, if I interpret the materials I received correctly.
There are two types of basket. Both have square bottoms, but one has a small round mouth, the type invented by the Abanaki, and the other has a large oval mouth. The latter, I think, are the shape now sold as trapping baskets.
Although primarily made of black ash, the baskets were made of white ash and other woods. They were produced as far south as Connecticutt and as far north as Quebec.
Based on the info I received from the Museum, I think a packbasket, or trap basket, would not be PC for any era prior to 1880, or the late 19th century, and would not be HC for any region outside of the Adirondacks and vicinity.
It made me curious, so I contactacted the Museum of the Adirondacks and inquired about the history of the packbasket.
There is a long tradition of use of packbaskets by both Europeans and Paleoimmigrant Americans (NDNs.) But,for the Adirondack packbasket in particular, there is reference to packbaskets in the region as early as 1830, but most are of 1880 vintage of later.
The Abanaki Indians claim to have crafted the first baskets, and that was relatively late in history, if I interpret the materials I received correctly.
There are two types of basket. Both have square bottoms, but one has a small round mouth, the type invented by the Abanaki, and the other has a large oval mouth. The latter, I think, are the shape now sold as trapping baskets.
Although primarily made of black ash, the baskets were made of white ash and other woods. They were produced as far south as Connecticutt and as far north as Quebec.
Based on the info I received from the Museum, I think a packbasket, or trap basket, would not be PC for any era prior to 1880, or the late 19th century, and would not be HC for any region outside of the Adirondacks and vicinity.