Seasonal Settlement Patterns or Rounds of the Takelma

The Takelma are considered a "hunting and gathering" society, in which bands of extended families move over the landscape as food sources seasonally become available. Generally, they traveled from the lower elevations in the spring to higher elevations during the summer and early fall, and then returned to their villages along the river for the winter. Each season represented a new round of food resources collected by the Takelma.

Spring

During the spring, the focus was on catching the spring run of salmon, an important food source for the Takelma (Gray 1987:32).

Spring was also the time to collect camas bulbs and basketry materials. Both men and women gathered and carried foods and materials in large woven baskets called "burden baskets." more>>

Summer

During the summer, the Takelma traveled the farthest, moving steadily up into higher, cooler elevations to collect bulbs, plants, and other items as they became available. As summer continued on into fall, fruits, berries, nuts, and other plant products ripened and were harvested. Some of the foods collected included wild plums and serviceberries. A simple structure made of boughs and brush served as a temporary shelter as they traveled. more>>

Fall

Much of the food gathered throughout the fall was dried and stored for the winter months. This was accomplished by cooking bulbs in underground ovens, roasting or smoking meat over a fire, or by using drying racks for numerous plant and animal foods. Acorns, pine nuts, hazel nuts, and deer/elk meat were all collected during the fall. more>>

Winter

During the cold winter months, the Takelma often kept a fire going and, traditionally, the elders would tell the stories of their ancestors to the younger members of the village. In this way, their history, as well as the cultural beliefs of their people, was passed down from generation to generation. more>>