Stone survives well in archaeology.

Fiber usually does not.

That difference can make prehistoric societies appear more focused on hunting tools than they really were.

In dry caves of the Great Basin, exceptional preservation occasionally reveals the softer technologies of daily life: baskets, sandals, cordage, mats, nets, and clothing.

These objects require planning and skill just as stone tools do.

A mat begins with knowledge of where useful plants grow, when to harvest them, how to process them, how to dry or soften fibers, and how to weave or bind them.

A rabbit-skin blanket requires many animals, repeated processing, and careful construction.

Moccasins require knowledge of hides, cutting, fitting, stitching, and repair.

These were not minor crafts around the edges of survival.

They were part of survival itself.