无毛视频

The Kumeyaay are just one of the many tribes that have resided in the Imperial Valley. There is evidence that they have been here, as they say, 无毛视频渟ince the beginning,无毛视频� and dates back at least 10,000 years. And part of why they have been able to reside in the Imperial and San Diego County for a long period of time is because of their ability to adapt to their surroundings. This time frame places the Kumeyaay as one of the earliest peoples to use granaries in history. Acorns, being one of the Kumeyaay无毛视频檚 food staples, were one of the main items that would be stored in their granaries. The reason behind this is because they were a widely available food source during that time, and more importantly, because of the amount of time it takes for an acorn to perish. Depending on the type of oak tree, an acorn can take anywhere from four months up to a couple of years before it perishes. The lengthy shelf life of acorns made the granaries a useful tool for the Kumeyaay.

Sowing Seeds

Before acorns were edible, they needed to undergo a leaching process since they contain tannic acid, which must be filtered out to prevent illness, as they are bitter if not leached. The Kumeyaay would use the acorns to make shawii, a common dish in Kumeyaay culture. The acorns would have to endure a culinary journey before becoming edible, and it all starts during the fall. The acorns would not be picked from the tree; they would be gathered from the ground once they had fallen. Once gathered, they would be peeled, dried, ground, and washed in baskets to remove the tannic acid. The final product would be similar to flour, and once cooked, it would have the consistency of a paste. The preparation of acorns was extensive, but they were one of the few food sources that had a long shelf life at the time.

Granary Storage

The extensive use of acorns in the Kumeyaay diet is why there were granaries to store excess acorns for the remainder of the year, typically until the next fall. Acorns were not exclusively stored in the granaries; pine nuts and mesquite beans were some of the other food sources that they would store in them. The granaries could be relatively small, like the size of a basket, or they could be quite large and built on stilts to keep animals and insects out of their food. Depending on the size of the basket and its design, it would take a varying amount of time to complete. It could take months to complete just one basket, depending on the design and size, and they were mainly made from willow branches and leaves. Willow baskets of antiquity were typically quite large, as opposed to willow baskets made today. The baskets were made from willow branches because they contain a substance called salicin, which is a natural insect repellent.

Grains of Wisdom

The Kumeyaay无毛视频檚 use of granaries is another example of how robust their way of living was, allowing them to thrive in a variety of different climates while being semi-nomadic. Since they were semi-nomadic, they would typically leave the larger granaries in place full of acorns and nuts and return to them the next season when they would stay in the same location. The granaries were versatile; in recent years, different types of Kumeyaay granaries have been

found that were still full of pine nuts and acorns. This versatility is astounding; one could easily store any excess food in them in case of a shortage in any given season. The granaries helped the Kumeyaay community and culture thrive, showcasing their ability to create a variety of tools to aid them in their survival, with granaries being one of many.

To learn more about this process and make your own granary, be sure to join IVDM staff for their Traditional Craft Day: Granaries on Saturday, March 9thfrom 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Imperial Valley Desert Museum is located in Ocotillo, California. It is open Wednesdays through Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.