The Iroquois people used tools to help them in their daily lives.  One tool that was important to the Iroquois was the canoe.  It was made out of a hollowed-out log and used to travel from village to village or to a hunting ground.  One other tool, the knife, was a sharpened piece of rock tied on to a minute carved piece of wood that was used to cut bark and could also be used as a weapon to scalp enemies.  Another tool used by the Iroquois was the bone awl.  It could be used to poke holes and designs in  moist pottery if carved properly.  Last of all, the snowshoe was a wooden frame tied together to spread the body weight out and keep people on top of the snow.  The snow shoes helped the Iroquois travel with ease and speed throughout the winter.  It took time to make tools, but it was worth it.

        Weapons were some of the most important items to the Iroquois nation. The spear’s main job was for catching fish.  The Iroquois main use for the bow and arrow was for catching bison ( buffalo), deer, bear, and maybe even moose!  The other reason that the bow and arrow was important to the Iroquois was because it was one of many weapons the Iroquois used in battle.  Another valuable weapon was the war club.  The war club was made of wood and stone.  It had a carved handle and its width was that of a 2x4.  At the top, there was a thick wooden ball that could seriously injure enemies.  Weapons were critical for hunting and protection.

        In and around the longhouse, household items were put to use in many different ways.  For instance, a woven basket served as a storage or carrying case.  The cradleboard was carved from wood and held the youngsters.  Mothers then attached the cradleboard to their backs to carry the infant.  Iroquois traveled for many different reasons.  If traveling through water they depended on the canoe, which was a hollowed-out  tree.  The mortar and pestle were used for crushing corn into cornmeal.  Life was arduous for the Iroquois, but these artifacts made it a little easier.