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. > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the > instructions > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html