Animal fiber used by Indians mainly as thread for sewing or stitching articles together. This fiber consisted of the large tendon lying along each side of the backbone - just back of the neck joint - of the buffalo, cow, horse, deer, and other animals. The tendon usually was about two feet long.
The tendon was stripped out and dried. When needed it was pounded to soften it, and then shredded into any thickness desired. Sometimes several small shreds would be twisted together by rolling them on the thigh with the palm of the hand. Indian women chewed sinew to soften it before use.
Sinew was employed in all kinds of sewing, and for attaching beads and porcupine quills. Moccasins and clothing were stitched with it. Bows were strengthened by backing them with sinew, and arrowheads and feathers were lashed to the arrow shaft with sinew. The Hidatsa made an arrowhead of buffalo sinew.
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