Oval tray

The women of the Southeast applied their weaving skills to the making of baskets, mats, and trays, such as the one exhibited here. Beautiful mats were created for visitors to sit on and to prevent the rain from penetrating ceremonial and residential houses. The people of the Southeast used much of their basket-making skill for the making of utensils such as trays, and for mats. The mats were put to a variety of uses, such as bedding flooring, and seating, or as lining for the walls of ceremonial houses. Women created beautiful mats for visitors to sit on, and to keep the rain from penetrating into both ceremonial and ordinary houses.