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   The white-tailed deer had a central role in the Wampanoag economy. It was their chief source of meat and leather, and nothing went to waste. They used the sinews for sewing, the bones for making small objects and tools, and deer hides were used for blankets, cushions and clothes. Native men spent much of their time in the cooler seasons of the year hunting deer for their families. Here we see two women scraping and stretching a hide on a frame. They will tan the hide with the animal’s brains and, depending on the intended use, either remove the hair from the other side or leave it on for its softness and insulating properties.

Wampanoag women

   A number of early European observers were quick to admire the physical appearance of the male natives. Giovanni de Verrazano, the earliest of the European observers recorded his observations of the New England Indians as follows: “This is the goodliest people and of the fairest condition that we have found in this voyage; they exceed us in bigness, they are the color of brass, some of them incline to whiteness, others are of a yellow color, with long black hair which they carefully turn and deck up: they are of a sweet and pleasant countenance.” He described the female Indians to be “comely to behold: very graceful and well formed: of a sweet and pleasant countenance” and well mannered. Other observers described them as tall, straight, muscular and well-proportioned. Obesity and deformities were rare indeed. Their cheekbones were high and prominent - the eyes widely separated. William Wood, in 1634, described the natives as: “...amiable to behold,” and“...high foreheaded, black ey'd, black haired, broad shouldered, brawny armed, long and slender handed, out-nosed, out-breasted, small waisted, lanke bellied, well thighed, flat kneed, handsome growne leggs, and small feet…” The skin was a light and tawny or bronzed color and remarkably clear. They seem to have had gleaming white teeth which were sound and regular. John Josselyn also made note of the whiteness of their teeth, “which the natives account the most necessary and best parts of man. The teeth of the elderly might be worn down from much eating of stone-ground cornmeal, but were seldom missing. Samuel de Champlain called them handsome, adding, “They exceed us in size.” [Remains from a burial site have been measured and it was found the average height to be about five feet, ten inches.] All observers agreed as to their erect carriage and ability to bear great burdens without stooping. The women kept their skin smooth with fish oil and eagle fat. As with men, red pigment was mixed to give a reddish coloration. In addition, bright red was applied to the forehead, temples and cheeks. Young women favored a black pigment around the eyes and on the forehead. The body also received its share of decorative paints.

Painting of the face was common with both men and women. Red was the preferred color. It was also liberally spread over the body. This love of staining the body red could well have been the reason for early settlers referring to them as “red men.” George Weymouth noted seven Indians from the Maine area who had stripes of blue painted across theirs chins, upper lips and nose. Bear grease, with or without coloring, protected the skin from insects and chill. At times the body was smoked with burning sage, sweetgrass or such aromatic plants.

Wampanoag danser

   Hair of men was straight, black and glossy-and no lack of it. Baldness was a rarity. No boy could wear his hair long until he reached the age of sixteen. Then, like his elders, he would pamper his hair more than the women. It was dressed daily with bear fat to give it a sheen, and frequently soot was added to deepen the natural black color. Hair styles for the men were limited only by the wearer's imagination. The most popular was the cockscomb-a strip of hair running down the center of the head. The hairdo was kept short and stiff with paints and grease-the sides of the scalp were shaved or plucked. King Philip's Wampanoag warriors preferred this style.

   Often artificial roaches of deer bristles, dyed to a brilliant red, were tied to the head to heighten the effect. Others wore the hair to the shoulders, in which case it might be braided or left trailing down the back of the head like a scalp lock. Bits of shell, stones, metal and the like were often tied into the hair for decoration. Some tied the crown hair into a top knot or let it dangle down, much like a horse's tail. Others shaved their heads on one side and let the hair grow long on the other. There were others who shaved all but a small tuft, the scalp lock, at the back of the head. It was an invitation for the enemy to grab the hairy handle as a trophy if he dared.

   Hair of women was glossy black. Dyes were rarely used, for gray hair was a rarity among the Indians. Occasionally, vermilion and bear fat were used to spark up a part of the hair. Long hair was admired, and indeed it often hung down to the hips. Sometimes it was gathered into a bunch down the back-much like a beaver tail-or braided. Occasionally the hair over the forehead was trimmed into bangs.

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