Nez Perce National Historical Park

Tumpline
c 1890
Nez Perce women played a prominent role in tending to their family’s domestic needs. Men hunted and fished while women harvested roots, gathered firewood, and took care of the family’s tipi. To carry loads of wood or other heavy burdens, women used tump lines. The wide pad of this smoked bison hide line was held against the forehead and the load balanced against the person’s back. It also was used to carry items from the horse while traveling.
Bison hide, sinew. L 5.6 m (6.1 yards)
Nez Perce National Historical Park, NEPE 8814



Tumpline c 1890 Nez Perce women played a prominent role in tending to their family’s domestic needs. Men hunted and fished while women harvested roots, gathered firewood, and took care of the family’s tipi. To carry loads of wood or other heavy burdens, women used tump lines. The wide pad of this smoked bison hide line was held against the forehead and the load balanced against the person’s back. It also was used to carry items from the horse while traveling. Bison hide, sinew. L 5.6 m (6.1 yards) Nez Perce National Historical Park, NEPE 8814
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