Achomawi basket-maker

Description

The Achomawi, or Pit River Indians, produce baskets only by the process known as twining, which is true weaving, never by coiling, which is actually a sewing process. In general their baskets have bottoms and sides slightly rounded, openings broad, and depth rather shallow. The usual materials are willow rods for the warp, or upright elements, and pie-root strands for the weft, or horizontal elements. The structure in the background is a summer hut, a rudely conical or hemispherical tipi covered with tule mats. The workwoman is wearing a rabbit-skin robe.