Native American weaponry

English soldier and explorer Jonathan Carver described another striking weapon, the name of which he did not give, that, he said, was unique to the inhabitants of the Great Plains:Having great plenty of horses, they always attack their enemies on horseback, and encumber themselves with no other weapon, than a stone of a middling size, curiously wrought, which they fasten by a string, about a yard and half long, to their right arms, a little above the elbow.

These stones they conveniently carry in their hands till they reach their enemies, and then swinging them with great dexterity, as they ride full speed, never fail of doing execution.

Tribes in North America preferred shorter blades and did not use long cutting weapons like the swords that the Europeans used at the time.

Some Native American tribes carried shields into battle for extra protection.

These shields were mostly made from leather stretched across a round wooden frame.