This article provides information on the weapons of the Southwestern Nations but the main focus is on the shields used by the tribes. Hopefully this data will help gamers paint accurate shield patterns on their castings.

Throughout this issue I plan to insert example of the shield patterns with color guides. To my knowledge one of the best collections of Pueblo shields is located in the Fred Harvey Fine Arts Collection at the Heard Museum in Phoenix Arizona. A visit to this museum is highly recommended.

Common weapons of the pre-European contact era included rocks, clubs, knives, atl-atl (throwing stick), lance, bow and even a boomerang weapon is shown in various artwork of the period. Most of the weapons were defensive in nature with the main offensive weapon being the bow. The knife and club were the main melee weapons. European contact brought many changes to local warfare. Knives as in most other regions was possessed by almost every warrior and became a highly desired trade item with Europeans.

The most important item introduced by the Spanish was the horse. The horse allowed tribes to expand the range of territory with their raids occurring with more speed and surprise. Firearms due mainly to the lack of powder and shot remained as a rarely used weapon. This remained the case until after the 1860s when enclosed shot and powder in an easy to store cartridge allowed the warriors to maintain ammunition for guns more readily. Only then did a majority of warriors become armed with firearms and still they were never a totally equipped with guns. Another area affected by contact was the shift in reliance on shields for physical protection to one of mystical protection among some tribes.

As a result of the simple weapons mentioned earlier, the defensive measures adopted to counter them were simple as well. Some tribes used a hide draped over the arm, a stick or even the bow and held in front of the warrior. This was used primarily in a melee. Another early defensive devise used mainly in melees was a shield made out of interwoven reeds , thus giving a wicker effect.

Before long the round shield of wood and hide was to become almost universal with the main variation being size. Also due to the material used, some shield were oblong or even slightly oval in shape. Some early artwork shows a shield large enough to reach from the top of a warriors head to just above the knees. Other artwork shows shields extending from just below the chin to between the waist and the knee. Later shields became standardized within a nation to either the 24 inch or 18 inch patterns though captured shields were used including Spanish metal round and the hide bi-lobed ararga shields.

Shield Construction varied among the tribes. Those tribes which relied on shields for physical protection tended to use the 24 inch variation. The 18 inch shield tended to be used by the tribes which viewed the shield as more of a mystic devise. Most tribes used a single centered handhold on the back of the shield. Those influenced by the Spanish adopted a forearm loop as well as a hand grip. Pueblo tribes tended to use extra leather loops on the shield (looped over their head) which allowed them to sling the shield around to their back while they used a bow or lance.

Another feature which varied among tribes was the use of shield covers. The covers were mainly used by tribes which regarded the shield as more of a mystic devise rather than one for physical protection. The covers were used to protect mystic designs placed on the actual shield. The cover patterns were often different than the shield patterns. Which one was more elaborate often depended on the culture of a specific tribe. Painters will have to decide whether they will want to paint the cover or shield designs on their castings.

Coloration was created by using compounds produced from organic (black, yellow, red, and blue) and minerals ( white, red, blue-green and dark yellow) sources. References to natural colors which were shades of brown and tan associated with hide. From the examples that I have seen or read about, the dominant colors seem to have been yellow and red. However this also was dependent of the compounds within the territory of different tribes so dominant colors would vary among them.

The most common color was red which often represented the blood of the enemy. The warriors also personalized shields by attaching extra items to the shield with leather cords such as beads. The most common items were parts of animals such as paws, ears, tails and especially feathers. These items were hunting/ war trophies or considered gifts from spirits and used to help the warrior in combat. Examples are: a rabbit tail may help a warrior run; an Owl's feather may help him see at night; and a Crow's feather would confuse the enemy.

After European contact, cloth, almost always red, was attached to the top portion of the shield.

Below are specific examples of the usage of weapons, shields and designs used by certain tribes.

Apaches preferred the 18 inch shield which was mainly ceremonial. If carried into battle, it tended to be by foot warriors and not mounted ones. In some tribes only chiefs and warriors of great prestige carried shields. Shield patterns included animals of prey and deities (Ga' an). If a cover was used, the designs were simple abstract lines and circles. Red was a dominant color. During the wars of the later 1800s many Apache warriors carried guns.

Colopau tribes did not carry shields, but used them as sacred and unit rallying banners.

Hopi warriors used the 24 inch shield with designs of birds, snakes and kachina/ spirits.

Navajo's preferred 18 inch shields some of which in the early years were elliptical in shape. Both mounted and foot warriors carried them. The shield patterns included pictures of war objects, mountain lions, hands, sun, moon, stars, lightning, bear paws and sometimes snakes. Black was a dominant color for them. Pima warriors used 24 inch shields often painted in a quartered design. Pueblo culture tribes preferred the 24 inch shields with patterns varying among the villages. The Rio Grande villages often divided shield in half with a horizontal bar or feature. Another common feature was the horns. Sometimes the horns looked like a horizontal half-moon, while others arose out of a bar feature. Another common feature was a central design surrounded by bars which quartered the shield giving a 4 pointed star shaped design.

Yuma tribes including the Yavapai, Havasupai and Hualapai preferred to use the draped hides rather than shields for defense.

Zuni warriors used the smaller 18" shield, uncommon among Pueblo tribes. They also wore a scorched hide armor which covered their head and torso. The shield had a simple geometric symbol on a distinct background color. They did use covers which contained more elaborate designs. They were reported to have grouped their warriors into units of like weapon types. Common weapons were the atl-atl, slings and bows for volley fire. Melee weapons include long spears.

Our Place in the Sun: The American Southwest

Historical Background
The Nations of the Southwest
Shield Designs and Weapons of Southwest Indian Nations