Baskets served many purposes in the lives and culture of Yosemite’s first peoples. They were used to carry goods, harvest seeds, sift grain, cook meals, and store belongings. They were used as game mats, bowls, jugs, racquets, pots, cradles, and eventually, as a source of income. Like many other traditions, basket weaving is an art that is still practiced today with techniques passing down from one generation to the next. A basket’s shape, size, material, weaving style, and design can inform us of the basket’s origin and function. Weaving styles and techniques vary from tribe to tribe and even from person to person. Identifying the weaving style of a basket can be useful in determining the basket’s origin or the tribal affiliation of its weaver. With a trained eye, it is even possible to recognize the work of particular weavers.