From the outset European trade goods had an impact on Iroquois culture. Iron knives and axes were superior to stone ones. Brass kettles replaced clay pots; woolen and cotton garb, skin clothing. But Europeans realized that to maximize profit from trade with Indians they must cater to Indian tastes and preferences. The pipe tomahawk was one such development. Not really practical as a tool or a weapon, it symbolized warfare yet could be smoked in council, the institution assuring peaceful relations. This specimen of Seneca origin dates to the end of the eighteenth century.
Courtesy: Canadian Museum of Civilization, National Museums of Canada (S75-S98)
