THE BOTANICAL PARTS OF THE PATTERSON BUNDLE
A Report to the Utah Native
Plant Society
By Merry Lycett Harrison,
Trained Clinical Herbalist
Presented October 20, 2000
Salt Lake City, Utah
It
is with great pleasure that I present my report to Utah Native Plant Society.
After almost 2 years of work, I am able to give to you my findings of the
analysis of the botanical parts in the Patterson Bundle. The Bundle was
discovered by Margaret and Bryce Patterson buried under a ledge in the Book
Cliffs of southern Utah in 1988 and was given to the Bureau of Land Management
in Moab for safekeeping. Among the varied contents are smaller bundles of roots
and plant parts and basketry materials. I received permission to study the
Bundle from BLM district archaeologist, Bruce Louthan, who had already had an
article published on the subject in the Fall 1990 issue of Canyon Legacy. The grant from UNPS helped support my efforts.
I became
interested in doing this study as a result of my experience as an herbalist.
When I first spied the grouping of dried roots laid out on a piece of old
leather in the back of the display case, I thought the crown of one of them
looked like one I am very familiar with and use in my pharmacy, Osha, Ligusticum porteri (Umbellifereae). Osha
grows above 7,000 feet and I knew it was in the La Sal mountains next to Moab
so it could have been obtained from the area close to where the Bundle was
found. As an herbal practitioner, I use Osha to help relieve bronchial problems
such as coughs and congestion. Some indigenous cultures consider it sacred and
useful in other ways. It is definitely an herb of great importance, potency and
usefulness. Looking at this grouping, I wondered if all the plants represented
could be of such important medicinal value and, if so, I wanted to try to learn
what they were.
Having decided to try to identify the plant parts, I spent
a considerable time sitting with the contents of the Bundle just looking at everything.
This time gave me an opportunity to make observations that helped bring focus
to my study. Although the Bundle has not been attributed to a particular native
culture, carbon dating had shown that the leather wrapping was between 200 and
400 years old which would have been during the time of contact with Europeans.
I noticed, however, that there was nothing of Anglo nature included in the
contents (i.e., no metal, woven fabric or thread). This was one of the reasons
that both Bruce and I suspected that the Bundle could be older than thought
which piqued my interest even more. We believed that without European influence
the contents, context and nature of the Bundle would more accurately represent
the culture of the people who made it. Interestingly, BLM recently resubmitted it
for carbon dating using a different technique and the results show that it is
between 400 and 600 years old.
Another observation I made was that there was nothing
exotic among the contents such as macaw feathers or pigments from another part
of the world. It appeared that everything , i.e. stones, red ochre, feathers
and animal parts and even the leather wrappings, were from materials that could
be found locally. These observations led me to think that it was possible that
all the plant parts could be found locally as well. Considering that the horse
had not yet been introduced, it was reasonable to think that all traveling was
still done on foot; therefore, the areas for hunting and gathering would have a
limited range. Based on this, I constructed a theory that began with the notion
that everything in the Bundle could be found in fifty miles or less from the
site where it was discovered. Since the region of possibility included
mountains, rivers, deserts and canyons, there was a very large variety of
plants that could be gathered from different elevations and bioregions.
Thinking that there must be other such collections in
museums in Utah and surrounding states that might offer insight into my study,
I contacted them only to learn that they had nothing remotely similar. I was
even allowed to examine all the boxes in storage that contained botanical parts
at the Edge of the Cedars Museum in Blanding, Utah, but found just the usual
pinyon nuts and yucca fiber one would expect. Realizing how unique the Bundle
collection is left me awed and a little stymied as to how to proceed.
Fortunately, help and direction came from former teachers, Dr. Karen Adams of
the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Cortez, Colo. and Dr. Enrique Salmon
from Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colo.. They advised that initial evaluation
should be based on morphology by
bringing modern plant material in to visually compare to the contents of the
Bundle.
When I began to try to determine what the roots were, I received
some suggestions about possible identities, but they did not make sense to me.
For example, there is a big, chunky root in the collection that was assumed to
be Canaigre, Rumex hymenosepalus, “because
it was used to tan hides”. I investigated how much root it would take to tan a
hide and realized that a thumbsized piece would not go very far in the tanning
process. It was also thought that some of the roots had to be Rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus sp., “because the root was
known to have been chewed like gum”. I asked why the people would go to the
trouble to dig up, clean, dry, wrap and bury small amounts of plants that are
in abundance all around them all the time. This thought created a doubt that
reinforced my idea that the roots were more rare and of greater importance and
supported my decision to investigate other possibilities for identification,
specifically, to look for roots in the area that were known to have significant
medicinal value. I had rejected the idea that the roots in the Bundle might be
food because the amount stored was so small. The quantities resembled the
amounts I would use as an herbal practitioner to treat an ailment.
Making sense of the roots seemed like an formidable task
at first because there were so many parts and pieces. I took my time to look
very carefully and realized that in some cases what looked like many roots was
actually a couple of roots cut into thirds or quarters. I could place the parts
end to end and see how the pieces fit. It is remarkable how clean and exquisitely
preserved these roots are as a result of the carefulness with which they were
dug, handled and stored.
The method I used to identify the roots was to visually
compare a modern root with an old one from the Bundle under a microscope. To do
this, I had to create my own herbarium because most herbarium specimens do not
have roots attached. This meant that I had to go out in the field, find the
plant, dig it up, clean it, dry it and bring it into the BLM office where the
Bundle is stored. This was very time consuming and at times discouraging.
Imagine how I felt after spending the day looking for Rudbekia laciniata which only grows in one small place in the state
but then discover that it was not a match.
It has been a journey to get to this point in that the
discovery unfolded slowly, one step at a time. It was not until I reached a
destination that I knew where to go next and there were many times I thought I
was at a dead end. Every time, however, a green light would eventually flicker
and I would be off to the field, herbarium or library to investigate yet
another idea or possibility. I had help and encouragement along the way from
those already mentioned and Daryl Trotter, botanist for the BLM, Dr. Stanley Welsh
and Dr. Duane Atwood of Brigham Young
University, Bill King and UNPS, people at the Natural History Museum and Edge
of the Cedars Museum, Margaret Patterson, Liz Montague, Sara Finnegan and
others.
The following is the inventory of my findings of the plant
parts in or associated with the Patterson Bundle. The item numbers represent
those assigned by the BLM to every item in the Bundle. I have separated the
list into 5 categories: Herbs, Basketry Materials, Necklace and Trim, Wrapping
and Miscellaneous.
Item #8- This is
the largest grouping of an assortment of plant materials and, although there
are many pieces, it turns out to have four plants represented: three roots and
a leaf. They are wrapped together in one piece of leather and a small stone
blade is with them.
1) Osha, Ligusticum porteri, (Umbelliferae)
Medicinal Value- Just
the smell of an Osha root tells you that this plant has a much offer. It is
commonly given to help relieve respiratory problems brought on by the cold or
flu. It has mild antiviral and antimicrobial properties. Osha has many other
applications and uses and is considered sacred by some indigenous cultures. The
inclusion of a small stone blade with this grouping might suggest that the
roots and leaf were scraped to create smaller pieces that could be ingested or
used in an infusion.
2)
Pleurisy Root, Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa (Asclepiadaceae).
Medicinal Value- This
is a powerful plant that is often used in cough remedies as an expectorant. It
is also muscarinic meaning that it can cause cardiac inhibition, vasodilation,
gastrointestinal stimulation and other parasympathetic effects.
3)
Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza
sagittata (Compositae)
Medicinal
Value- This is a thumbsized piece which includes the crown. Dr.
Welsh confirmed that it was Balsamroot. Michael Moore likened the usefullness
of Balsamroot to that of Echinacea sp.
from the Plains. It is an immunostimulant and inhibits respiratory viruses.
4)
Yucca leaf, Yucca
sp. (Agavaceae)-
Medicinal Value- Dr.
Welsh identified this as the base of a yucca leaf. Yucca root is used to
relieve arthritis. Recent studies of some species show antiviral and
antimicrobial actions.
This leather wrapping contains the
tops of two of the same kinds of roots.
Item #9-
Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza sagittata
This small, fringed pouch contains small pieces of the big Balsamroot.
These fit like puzzle pieces to the bottom of the big root in Item #8. Why
these fragments were stored separately from the mother root is a mystery.
Item #2- Stream
Orchid, Helleborine, Epipactis gigantea, (Orchidaceae)
This clump of multiple roots is
stored in what looks like the heal of a worn out moccasin. This was one of the
most difficult ones to determine but, after examining many possibilities, I
believe these roots most closely resemble the Stream Orchid. It is another
powerful herb that has many uses, i.e., for tachycardia, migraines and poison
ivy, to name a few. Michael Moore recommends using it in place of the rare Lady
Slipper, Cypripedium sp., also from the Orchid family.
All of these plants I have discussed are available within
the close region I described. Most would have to be harvested at certain times
of the year when they were available and the people were in the area where they
grew, such as during a summertime hunting expedition in the mountains. It has
been very exciting to discover that these few plants represent the most potent
and effective plant medicine that the area has to offer.
There
are four circles of uniformly stripped lengths of bark.
Item #53- Sumach, Rhus
trilobata, (Anacardiaceae)
Items
#52, #54, and #55- Willow, Salix
sp., (Salicaceae)
Some possibilities are: Salix amygdaloides, S. eriocephala, S.
interior, S.lucida.
Juniperus
sp.
Exquisite
hand work created these fragile and beautiful pieces that include juniper seeds
along with bone, sinew and leather. The seeds have been drilled to allow them
to be strung.
Juniperus
sp.
Margaret Patterson who found the Bundle reported that when
she unearthed it she had to dig through considerable juniper bark that had
lined the pit it was in. It is presumed that the juniper bark acted as an
effective repellent to bugs and organisms that could destroy the contents since
they are still so beautifully preserved.
There
are sixteen small plastic bags that contain bits and pieces of what appear to
be fragments of the plants already mentioned. They may have broken off from the
larger roots over time or as a result of being handled. There is a small twig
or branch that was unidentifiable to me and Drs. Welsh and Atwood. There is
also a horn spoon with a wooden handle.
It
has been such a unique experience to have the opportunity to examine these
botanical parts so closely. I feel I have now taken the study as far as
possible with my findings on morphological comparison. I can imagine taking it
further to have more sophisticated anatomical testing done, especially on the Epipactis and Yucca. Although I could not predict what herbs I would discover
when I started, now that I see the whole picture, it does make very good sense
that the biggest medicine of the area would be stored and protected in such a
careful manner, especially if it was not easily obtainable throughout the year.
I cannot presume to know for what or how these plants were meant to be used,
but I can imagine concocting a very effective infusion from what is available
here. Either singly or in combination it is reasonable to believe that these
herbs could have a significant, positive effect on a very sick person. Even if
they were meant to be used ceremonially, they represent powerful healing
potential.
In
an attempt to understand more about the context of the botanical parts of the
Bundle, I brought the animal parts to the University of Utah to be analyzed by
Jack Broughton, assistant professor of anthropology, and Dr. Eric Rickart,
curator of vertebrates. I had not examined these materials very closely because
I did not feel I had the expertise, and I did not want to disturb the contents
more than necessary. They determined that the contents of the five small
pouches that contained animal body parts were; cottontail rabbit foot bones, a
tail of a short-eared owl, a single, headless native trout, a rabbit arm bone,
a rabbit leg, the skin of a small mammal, and an unidentifiable body part.
It
seems apparent that the entire contents of the Bundle were much more than a
stash of extra supplies. It looks to me to be more of an assembly of precious,
valuable and important materials of great significance, and I always regarded
it in this way. Maybe we can never know the use of the herbs in the Bundle but
I think we can surmise that these plants were of special importance to the
people who assembled it.
I
am greatly appreciative of the grant from UNPS. It seems particularly fitting
that the funds from the grant went to research a most unique representation of
Utah cultural and botanical history from a time and people about which little
is known. Thank you for your support!
Suggested Reading:
Louthan,
Bruce D.
Fall
1990 “The Patterson Bundle: A Pre-horse
Ute Subsistence Kit?”
Canyon
Legacy: a
Journal of the Dan O’Laurie Museum- Moab, Utah, Number 7. ISSN: 0897-3423
Moore,
Michael
1979-
Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West
and
1989-
Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon
West
Museum
of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe, N.M.
Moerman,
Daniel E.
1998-
Native American Ethnobotany
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
This paper was presented to Utah Native Plant Society on October 20, 2000.
Copyright ã 2000, Merry Lycett Harrison
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Merry
Lycett Harrison is a trained clinical herbalist and owner of Millcreek Herbs.
She received her training through and intensive course of study with Michael
Moore of the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine and has a practice in Salt
Lake City. Her broad view of herbalism led her to complete the Master Gardener
Program and to also study ethnobotany at the BACA Institute of Ethnobotany and
the science of essential oils at Purdue University. She teaches classes in
culinary and medicinal herbs, and herb gardening and leads summertime herb
trips in the wild.
Millcreek Herbs
P.O. Box 9534
Salt Lake City, Utah 84109
(801) 466-1632
millherb@xmission.com
www.millcreekherbs.com