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Show 14 Nuwuvi: A Southern Paiute History pottery that was made was constructed out of coils of pounded clay mixed with water. The bottoms of the pots were either flattened with coils added for sides or pointed so they could be stuck in the ground. Pottery was usually made by women, but in bands where it was a less common craft, a particular man might specialize in the skill. Because of their rarity, pots were a common trade item between bands and with other tribes. The fact that baskets were more common was only practical since pottery is heavy and the Nuwuvi gathering economy required mobility. It was necessary to keep possessions at a minimum. Each woman had one set of harvesting and cooking baskets, including food bowls, winnowing-parching trays, seed beaters, and assorted sizes of cooking baskets. The women also made intricate cradle boards with which to carry their babies and basketry hats to protect them from the sun. Water jars or "ollas" were very serviceable on gathering trips into dry regions. Plants, seeds, and roots were gathered throughout the summer and especially during the fall. The Nuwuvi knew when each edible plant would be ripe and where it could be found. Seeds were gathered in close-twined conical baskets. Their preparation for eating often involved several stages. The seeds were hulled, if necessary, on a "metate" or grinding stone. They were then winnowed in large, fan-shaped trays especially designed for this purpose. After the hulls had been cleaned out, the seeds often were parched with charcoal in the basket trays. This step in the process required considerable skill, because one had to keep tossing the seeds and charcoal to parch the seeds evenly and to keep the basket from burning. Some of the seeds and roots were cached and stored for winter use. Seeds were often ground and stored as flour, which was later mixed with water to make a musk or gruel. Among the native plants used by the Nuwuvi were mesquite and screw beans. They were collected and prepared in the manner described above. Mesquite beans also were used as a sort of candy, being broken and sucked for their sweetness. Different varieties of the yucca were used for soap, and the leaves provided fiber for the manufacture of various items, such as fine cordage. The heart (or the base of the leaves) of the agave was roasted and baked, providing a sweet food, and some parts were preserved in the form of pounded |