For your consideration is this beautiful Eastern Woodlands Native American Snapping Turtle Rattle circa 20th Century. Small turtle shell rattles are commonly utilized by Native Americans. However, Seneca and Iroquois singers used huge snapping turtle shells at the Great Feather Dance and in the False Face Company's healing rites. According to Iroquois mythology, the earth sits on a turtle's back. According to legend, when Native Americans first settled in North America, they named it Turtle Island. The turtle offered both food and bowls. The splitting of the shell's belly provided them with sharp tools and weapons. They also believed the turtle possessed a unique spirit of longevity, power, and wisdom. The turtles became revered and honored, and were made into rattles and hangers and decoration for use in ceremonies. Ceremonial drums were also made from larger species. Southwestern Native Americans used yucca fibers to wrap the wood "neck" handle of box turtles, but Eastern Woodland peoples would use thin wicker strips from willow trees or reeds to weave around the snapping turtle stretched neck handle and secure the two thicker wicker splints that supported the neck handle and the two split shell halves, and the underside is sinew sewn in the traditional method. Long leather strips are woven through the eye portals so as to attach to a belt or around the wrist for carrying. This rattle shows good condition overall with little wear present and no signs of major damage. It measures 18 1/8" L x 8 1/2" W x 3" H and weighs 1 pound.