Technology: Basketry

Native American basketry influenced that of many newcomers, among them the Germans of the Mid-Atlantic region, the Shakers of the Northeast, and the British of the Appalachians. In addition, the Native Americans learned from the work of newcomers such as African Americans in the Southeast. The adoption of new foods inspired new styles of food baskets; for example, cheese baskets, required by the new dairying, were adaptations of sifters but had an extremely open weave for draining. By the late nineteenth century some sifters had been replaced with purchased sieves of horsehair or wire mesh. Basketry continues to be a well-developed art form, has continued to represent Native American culture, and is being practiced by regional specialists.