At Home in the Painted Desert

At Home in the Painted Desert. . Native Americans' familiarity with local plants, minerals, rocks, and animals has helped sustain their cultures and make their homes in this beautiful-and challenging-landscape for more than 13,000 years. , Stones and Petrified Wood , The colorful clays, sandstones, petrified wood and basalt that give the Painted Desert much of its striking character today were also important building materials. People also ground and flaked them by hand to fashion tools, household implements, and ornaments. , Animals , Former inhabitants of the Painted Desert left illustrations of animals important i them at rock art sites throughout the park. Hides, feathers, fur, and sinew were used to make Clothing. Bone was suitable for making many objects, from sowing needles and hair pins to beads and whistles. , Plants , Prehistoric farmers began cultivating maize here at least 4,500 years ago but the roots, nuts, fruits, and seeds of wild plants always remained an important resource. Plants yielded food, medicine, wood, and the raw materials used to weave fabric and basketry, make soap, and create vivid paints and dyes.