Hopi Indian Weaving, Leaflet No. 18

The Hopi Indians have occupied their homelands in northeastern Arizona for centuries and archaeological findings indicate that ancestors of the Hopi lived in northeastern Arizona prior to the time of Christ. Weaving was an essential part of the everyday life of these prehistoric Arizonans and evidence of Pueblo textile weaving which dates prior to 800 A.D. has been found in ancient Pueblo ruins.

The Hopi carry on the traditional weaving of their prehistoric ancestors who wove fabrics from cotton, yucca fibers, fur and feathers. It was not until the coming of the Spaniards that wool was used in Pueblo weaving. Sheep were brought to the Pueblo country by early Spanish explorers during the 16th century; however, initially the animals were used for food and it appears as though the wool was not immediately recognized as a source for Pueblo weaving. Sometime during the 17th century, the Pueblo Indians began to use wool and by the 18th century wool weaving was well established in the southwestern Pueblos. The earliest written account of Hopi weaving was recorded in 1581 A.D. by Spanish explorers wherein white cotton dresses were described. By the 1880's, due to the increasing availability of commercial made cloths, Pueblo weaving began to decline. Of all the Pueblo Indians, the Hopi were least affected by this advent and traditional weaving continued. Since this time, Hopi