Mescal Bean Necklace

Sources

Howard, J. H. (1957). The Mescal Bean Cult of the Central and Southern Plains: An Ancestor of the Peyote Cult. American Anthropologist, 59(1), 75-87. http://www.jstor.org/stable/666531
Source for the Oto horse trade, descriptions of how various tribes used the bean, and speculation about the later shift to peyote.

Turpin, Solveig A. "Native American Music." Handbook of Texas Online. Accessed August 28, 2026. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/native-american-music
Reference for historical use of Mescal Beans in regalia.

Mountain Laurel, Mescal Bean. Texas Beyond History. https://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/ethnobot/images/mountain-laurel.html
Reference for archeological significance, toxicity, and ceremonial, medicinal, and decorative use.

Mescal Bean Prep. Powwows.com Forums, Gourd Dance. https://forums.powwows.com/forum/pow-wow-arena/men-s-dance-styles/gourd-dance/1066-mescal-bean-prep
Modern, first-hand advice on how to drill mescal beans for making regalia.

Mystery Cache from the Lower Pecos. Texas Beyond History. https://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/spotlights/hunterspouch/hunterspouch.html
Source for the Horseshoe Ranch Cave pouch.

Coloring Page. "Hunter's Pouch from Horseshoe Ranch Cave" https://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/publications/Education/TARL_Hunters%20Pouch%20coloring%20page.pdf
Homeschool coloring activity.

Val Verde County Map. Courtesy of the Texas Almanac. Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
Shows where Horseshoe Ranch Cave is located.

Shafer, Harry J. "Sacred Landscape in the Lower Pecos." Witte Museum, Tracks, Fall 2022. https://www.wittemuseum.org/tracks-fall-2022-sacred-landscape-in-the-lower-pecos/
Background on the Lower Pecos region and its people, from the museum featured in the video.

McAllister, J. Gilbert. "Peyote." Handbook of Texas Online. Accessed September 29, 2026. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/peyote
Background on peyote, the cactus that later replaced the mescal bean in ceremonies.

Doherty, Tash. "A Peyote Ceremony: What Is It and What To Expect." https://www.tashdoherty.com/posts/a-peyote-ceremony-what-is-it-and-what-to-expect
A modern first-hand account of a peyote ceremony.