I live in Orange County VA. and I know that's not why it was named  
such, but our soil is incredible orange-red clay. You see newborn  
little snowy white lambs and calves in the spring, in a matter of  
weeks they are orange. It stains terribly, I can see where something  
like that would make a great dye or body paint [and when it's wet  
it's a slippery mess]. Maybe the Powhatans traded for it.

Nancy

-------
I was never lost, but I was bewildered once for three days.

--Daniel Boone



On Feb 26, 2007, at 10:53 AM, Tom Apple wrote:

> On Mon, 26 Feb 2007 09:53:37 -0500, Anne Pemberton wrote
>
>> Does anyone know more about what puccoon is and how it was used? At
>> what age did Indians begin to decorate themselves with it? Was it a
>> grease-based makeup, or a clay based?
>
> Puccoon is a plant that is usually found in the more mountainous  
> parts of
> Virginia. Sometimes Powhatan would require tribute to be paid to  
> him in
> puccoon.
>
> Strachey refers to terra sigillata and puccoon being used as red  
> coloring.
>
> Terra sigillata is a very fine red clay. The dried clay dust would  
> be used
> with bear grease or walnut oil to make a red paint. You can  
> approximate the
> effect using brickdust. It would be an orangy-red color.
>
> This link will give you an indication on what terra sigillata would  
> look like
> used with walnut oil:
> http://www.pinn.net/~tuckahoe/captain1.jpg
>
> Puccoon would use the root and produce a more red, less orangy  
> color. It
> would also be mixed with bear grease or walnut oil. Since puccoon  
> produces a
> more true red color than the clay, it was more desirable.
>
> I think you would find red color being used by young boys more so  
> than girls.
> Strachey et al seem to indicated that women favored "pouncing"  
> which would
> mean tattooing at that time. Painting seems to be very much a  
> personalized
> touch to increase the stature and presence of the individual. "He  
> is deemed
> bravest who is the most monstrous to behold." (Strachey, I think..)
>
> Certainly boys in other Eastern Woodland Algonquin tribes were  
> known to paint
> up. The Powhatans were probably no different.
>
> Regards,
>
> Tom A.
>
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