Plains Indian Beadwork Umbilical Cord Amulet A2678

 Measures 5" x 2 1/2".

Plains Indian mothers took special care of their newborn baby's umbilical card. When the cord fell off, the mother sewed it into a small buckskin bag, often shaped like a lizard or turtle, but sometimes plain.

This bag was attached to the baby’s cradle as its first toy, later, it was worn around the child’s neck or tied to his clothing. It was kept for a lifetime as a charm to ensure long life, because the cord represented a link between the child’s existence before birth and his life after birth.