The Earliest Texans

Texas “Tayshas” (Caddo) “Tejas” (Spanish) “Texas” (English) … words that gave Texas its name and state motto, “Friendship”

People of the Coastal Plain

Caddos Lived in Piney Woods area of Gulf Coastal Plain hunter/gatherers, farmers Lived in wood/grass huts in shape of beehives. Villages had 20+ huts built around temple led by religious leader and chief, elders Unlike other tribes, Caddos lived comfortably from farming, making tools, income from trade of tools/pottery/woven cloth/jewelry

Karankawas Lived between Galveston, Corpus Christi. Difficult life due to hot, humid climate. Sandy soil not good for farming. Nomadic. Had to roam to search for food. Traveled in groups of 30-40 people with single leader per group. Made dugouts (boats from logs) to reach barrier islands. Shelters lightweight, easy to move, with pole frames, animal skins or grass mats. Spent much of time looking for food, little time to make goods. Only made tools to meet basic needs (baskets, pottery, arrows, long bows). Food came from sea, wetlands: alligator, oysters, turtles, wild plants. Were excellent runners, swimmers, hunters, wrestlers. Other tribes called them the Wrestlers. Developed smoke signals to call people together for battle or ceremonies.

Coahuiltecans (koh uh WEEL tek un) Lived on dry grasslands of the Gulf Coastal Plain. Food was scarce. Land not good for crops. Nomadic. Had to search for food. Ate rabbits, birds, wild pigs, deer, snakes, worms, insects, as well as mesquite beans, cactus fruit, sap. Lived in small groups led by a religious leader called “Shaman”

People of the Central and High Plains

Tonkawas Lived near Austin, but also roamed along rivers and streams to east. Hunters, gatherers. Ate fruit, berries, nuts. Hunted deer, rabbits, turtles, snakes, buffalo. Used buffalo for food, water bags from stomach, tools from bone, rope from hair, clothing from hide. Lived in shelters made from poles and hides that could be moved easily.

Lipan Apaches Nomadic. Lived in small groups. Men hunted in Hill Country north to Red River. Women gathered, farmed (maize, beans, squash). Raided Caddo villages when food was scarce. Began to catch, ride wild horses. Use them to hunt buffalo. Shelters were easy to move. Wickiup made from sticks, reeds and leaves. Tepee made from sticks and hides.

Comanches Lived in the Texas Panhandle Early Comanches were hunter, gatherers. Learned to ride horses, hunt buffalo. Used buffalo for food, shelter, clothing, tools. Became warriors. Comanche means “one who wants to fight me.” Led by chief of warriors, other chiefs, council, depending on type of decision to be made.

People of the Mountains and Basins

Pueblos Lived along the Rio Grande near El Paso. Word “Pueblo” comes from Spanish for “town”. Lived in shelters similar to modern apartment buildings. They were 2-3 stories high or more, used ladders to reach entrance on 2nd floor, raised ladders when enemies came near. Used stone or adobe to build shelters. Farmers. Learned to use streams, rivers for irrigation.

Jumanos Some groups formed villages with homes similar to Pueblo homes. They grew maize, squash, beans, cotton. Learned to weave cotton into cloth. Other groups were nomads searching for food, lived in tepees. They gathered plants and hunted buffalo. They traded with other groups of people, became great traders through the Southwestern U.S. Traded Obsidian and salt.

Conchos Left no written history, only oral tradition handed down from generation to generation. Not much is known about them because they died out and their oral tradition died with them. Lived along the Rio Concho in Northern Mexico and near Presidio in western Texas. Allied with the Jumanos to fight Spanish settlers. They disappeared, buy why is a mystery. Some think they were captured by the Spanish; others think they moved north to join the Jumanos.

Tiguas Moved from New Mexico to flee from Spanish settlers. Lived in area near El Paso. Named it “Ysleta” Were farmers. Each family farmed a plot of land. Men cleared the fields, women poked holes in dirt, planted seeds in hole. As crops grew, children pulled weeds, killed insects that could destroy plants.