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Native American Tomahawks And Their Popular Appeal

By Craig Chambers

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 28Jul2010 Word count: 426 Viewed: 585 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Native American tomahawks are very popular because of their iconic look. There are also a lot of designs to choose from. There is much to learn as we understand the great importance of the tomahawk throughout history. We'll learn how it is made, its importance to the Indians and the changes it has undergone throughout the years.

When you think of Native American movies, one of the most prevailing and memorable items used in combat are tomahawks. They look as though they do not have much use in today's modern age, however, the tomahawk is used as a decorative and conversation piece, providing hours of intellectual analysis. The Native American tomahawk is an iconic weapon used by the Native Americans for warfare. North American tribes have been the prominent users of this item. The name of this Indian weapon, tomahawk, came from an Algonquian word.

The original look of the Native tomahawk was a stone head secured to a wooden handle with leather. The tomahawk could also have been made with the wooden handle secured in a bored hole on the stone. There were other kinds of tomahawks made when the Europeans infiltrated the New World. They were made with metal, such as the hatchet we know today. They were called trade tomahawks. The initial use of Native American tomahawks was for hand to hand combat. It was also used as a mid or long range weapon when hurled at the enemy. Like other kinds of artifacts, the tomahawk was also used for ceremonial purposes. In some tribes, the tomahawk was laid to the ground during council meetings. When a leader took the tomahawk from the ground, it meant war will commence and it was approved. If the tomahawk was buried, then it meant that the warfare had ended. This is where the famous line, "bury the hatchet" came from.

Aside from its social and historical context, the allure of the tomahawk today rests upon the ornate and impeccable detailing on the handles as well as on the base of the stone weapon. Many crafters now make tomahawks with ornate details and beautiful coverings like leather work and embellished with pieces like fringes and fur. The resulting effect is a beautiful work of art, worthy to be placed on a wall as decor. These very unique Native American tomahawks have become a great item for those who want to add to their historical pieces of cultural Indian artifacts. Today, Native Americans use tomahawks as gifts, giving them to a person of importance during important tribal meetings.

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