Caddo

1. Caddo By Sydney Long and Mason Mayes

2. I. Location and Government • The Caddo were located in the Piney woods of East Texas. • The Caddo had a chief called caddi. • They also had a high chief called a xinesi. • The xinesi was in charge of the sacred fire. • The chiefs passed their positions to their sons.

3. II. Dress • Caddo men wore breechcloths made of deerskin. • In colder weather they wore buffalo robes, leggings, and moccasins. • Often they shaved or plucked all hair but in the middle like a mohawk. • They plucked all facial hair. • The women wore deer skin skirts and buffalo robes.

4. III. Homes • The Caddo homes and lodges looked like beehives or haystacks. • The homes of the Caddo were framed with logs or tree branches. • The Caddo houses used cane as roofing material. • The Caddo used grasses, straw, and thatch to cover the outside of the homes. • The beds had reed matting and buffalo skins

5. IV. How They Lived • The family is the most important unit in the tribe. • Related families lived together in lodges. • When men married they moved into the lodge of their wife. • The children belonged to the mother’s clan. • Women could simply divorce their husband by throwing their belongings out of the lodge. • The Caddo were farmers. • The Caddo were excellent potters. • The Caddo were great tanners. • Also the Caddo were great traders.

6. V. Beliefs • The Caddo believed in one god or Great Spirit. • Also they believed in a devil. • Last there was a Corn Goddess, Mother Earth, and, the Sacred Fire God. • The Caddo were mound builders the mounds were built from cane and grass and were homes for temples, priests, and important families.

7. VI. Summary • The Caddo were great farmers of the Piney Woods of East, TX. • The Caddo created pottery, baskets, mats and other goods they could trade. • The Caddo lived in villages. • The Government was controlled by chiefs who were religious leaders. • The Caddo believed in a creator and tried to live life in a land that had plenty to offer.