A History of the World in 100 Objects
North American otter pipe
May 25, 2010
Discover the history of Native American pipe smoking, including its role in ceremonies and religious practices. Explore the burial practices and cultural artifacts of farming communities in middle America, including the discovery of a 2000-year-old otter-shaped tobacco pipe. Learn about the religious and spiritual importance of pipes in a specific culture, their connection to rituals and responsibilities, and their role as spirit guides or totems for the smokers.
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Quick takeaways
- The stone pipes found in present-day Ohio served as spirit guides or totems in Native American ritual and religious life, creating a transcendent state where the animal on the pipe would come to life.
- Smoking tobacco from America became an important economic commodity for European countries, symbolizing the expropriation of Native American lands, and smoking was viewed as a sophisticated and cool activity popularized by film stars on screen.
Deep dives
The Role of Smoking in Native American Culture
Smoking pipe was a ceremonial and religious practice for Native Americans 2000 years ago. Stone pipes were considered power objects and were believed to be alive. The pipes, shaped as animals, served as spirit guides or totems, and smoking created a transcendent state where the animal on the pipe would come to life. Tobacco, such as Nicotiana Rustica, was used and its hallucinogenic effect heightened awareness.
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