Materials and Methods: Tanning

The traditional tanning of hides was a lengthy, arduous process but it produced a finished product of unsurpassed quality. Across the Great Plains, buffalo and deer hides were most commonly used for moccasin production. In the north, moose was also widely used.

Tanning began with stretching a fresh hide and staking it to the ground. Then, the tissue and fat were removed with flesher and scraper. Once the hide was scraped clean, it was rubbed until saturated with a mash of brain and liver. The hide was then soaked and stretched several times. Sometimes, finished hides were smoked.

The tanning of a hide required the removal of all of the animal tissue as well as graining. A wide variety of fleshers and scrapers were used across the Plains to accomplish this task. Fleshers typically have serrated edges for removing soft flesh, while scrapers have a flat blade.