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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