Ben Carter
Candles have been used as a source of light for thousands of years, and while little is known about their origin, the Ancient Egyptians are thought to have used rushlights or torches by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat. The use of candles in pre-Columbian America is uncertain, with little evidence of their existence. However, there are some indications that certain Native American groups may have used candles or alternative sources of light. For example, the Inuit are known to have used lamps called Kudlik, and some Northwest Coast peoples utilized candlefish, a local fish containing a lot of oil, by inserting a wick into a dried fish and lighting it. Additionally, Native Americans shared their knowledge of using pine knots or candle-wood with early European settlers, who also brought their own limited supply of beeswax candles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use of candles by Native Americans | Beeswax candles were in use, but in limited quantities. |
| Candles were also made from boiled bayberries, which burned with a sweet smell and little smoke. | |
| The Inuit used candles made from the oil of a local fish called Eulachon, or candlefish. | |
| Northwest coast peoples used candles made from dried candlefish with a wick inserted. | |
| Candles were introduced to at least one pre-Columbian Indian culture by the Spanish. | |
| Resinous torches of pine-wood (ocotl) were used indoors by the Aztecs. | |
| Links and huge braziers of resinous wood were used for public lighting. | |
| Lamps and candles were in use in post-Columbian America. |
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What You'll Learn
Northwest coast peoples used 'candlefish'
Candles were used in the Old World since the Palaeolithic era and were certainly used by the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Chinese within the 1st millennium BC. However, there is little evidence of candles or lamps in early America before the arrival of Columbus.
One exception to this is the use of candlefish by the Northwest Coast peoples. The candlefish, or eulachon, is a small anadromous species of smelt that spawns in some of the major river systems along the Pacific coast of North America, from northern California to Alaska. The fish is so fatty, with up to 15% of its total body weight in fat, that it can be dried, strung on a wick, and burned as a candle. The name "candlefish" is derived from this practice and was a name commonly used by early explorers. The eulachon was also a valuable trading commodity for Northwest Coast peoples, who transported the fish's grease in airtight cedar bentwood boxes on sleds along a vast network of "grease trails".
In addition to the Northwest Coast peoples, the Inuit also used candles. There is some evidence that pre-Columbian Indian cultures may have used candles and lamps introduced by the Spanish, although this is not widespread. Resinous torches of pine wood (ocotl) were also used indoors, and outdoors for public lighting during religious ceremonies.
Native Americans also used other methods of lighting their homes, such as wicks layered in animal tallow and pine knots or candle-wood, which they shared with early European settlers.
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The Inuit used lamps
There is little evidence of pre-Columbian Native Americans using lamps or candles. The few sources that mention pre-Columbian lamps are often discredited. However, there is evidence that the Inuit used lamps.
The qulliq or kudlik is the traditional oil lamp used by the Inuit, the Chukchi, and the Yupik peoples. The lamp is made of soapstone, with some also made of a special kind of pottery. The lamp is elliptical or half-moon-shaped, with a wick made of moss or cotton grass soaked in oil and arranged along the edge of the lamp. The lamp is lit with a stick called a taqqut. The fuel for the lamp is seal oil or blubber, although whale blubber is also used in communities with access to whaling.
The qulliq was an important multi-purpose tool for the Inuit. It was used for illuminating and heating their homes, melting snow, cooking, and drying clothes. The lamp was also significant in Inuit religion, featuring in a story about the Sun and the Moon. In the present day, the qulliq is used mainly for ceremonial purposes.
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Candles were introduced by the Spanish
Candles have been used as a source of light for more than 5,000 years, with the earliest use often attributed to the Ancient Egyptians. They were also used by the Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Chinese within the 1st millennium BC. However, there is little evidence of candles being used in pre-Columbian America. While lamps have been found in the Lascaux caves, which date back to the Palaeolithic era, and candle-like objects were used by the Inuit and the peoples of the northwest coast, there are no examples of pre-Columbian Maya, Aztec, Inca, or Native American lamps, candles, or candle holders.
That being said, it cannot be said with certainty that lamps and candles did not exist in pre-Columbian America. However, if they did, their usage was likely not widespread, given the lack of evidence. There is some evidence to suggest that candles and lamps were introduced to at least one pre-Columbian Indian culture by the Spanish. This is supported by a 17th-century source that tells of a wise Indian who, when asked to name the most important things he and his fellows had received from the Castilians, listed chicken eggs, horses, candles, and lamps.
Native Americans did use other methods of lighting, such as resinous torches of pinewood (ocotl) for indoors and links and huge braziers piled with resinous wood for public lighting. They also developed a quick and inexpensive method of lighting using pine knots or candle-wood, which they shared with the original European settlers in the New World, who had brought a limited supply of candles with them. These early settlers also learned to make candles from the wax of boiled bayberries, which burned well and had a pleasant smell.
Thus, while candles may have been introduced to some Native American cultures by the Spanish, it is also true that Native Americans had their own methods of lighting and readily adopted and adapted new sources of light from the Europeans.
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Beeswax candles were preferred
Native Americans had limited access to beeswax candles, as they were not widely available or easy to come by. Farmers who kept bees for honey also had a source of wax, but even with several hives, the number of candles they could make was restricted. The introduction of candle-making methods by European settlers helped Native Americans create their own candles, but these were often made from alternative materials like pine knots or candle-wood.
Beeswax candles were introduced to Europe during the Middle Ages and were a significant improvement over animal-based tallow. They burned cleanly and emitted a sweet fragrance. Spermaceti, a wax derived from sperm whale oil, was another alternative to beeswax that emerged in the late 18th century. Spermaceti candles burned brighter and were harder, making them more resistant to heat.
The preference for beeswax candles among Native Americans can be attributed to their superior qualities compared to tallow candles. The clean burn and pleasant aroma made them more desirable, despite their limited availability. Beeswax candles were also considered symbols of wealth and were used in religious ceremonies, further elevating their status. While Native Americans had access to other lighting sources like pine-knot torches and candle-wood, beeswax candles held a special place for their illuminating and sensory qualities.
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The pine knot was a quick and inexpensive lighting method
The use of candles dates back thousands of years, with the Ancient Egyptians and Romans using wicked candles. However, the evidence of candle usage in pre-Columbian America is scarce. While lamps were used in the Arctic, called Kudlik, and candles were made from candlefish on the northwest coast, there are few indications of their widespread use elsewhere.
Native Americans, however, developed a quick, inexpensive, and unique method of lighting: the pine knot or candle-wood. This method was shared with the early European settlers, who had a limited supply of candles and found candle merchants to be few and far between. The process of making candles from scratch was time-consuming and tedious, especially when combined with the challenges of surviving in a new and harsh environment.
The pine knot method involved using resinous torches of pine-wood (ocotl) for indoor lighting. For outdoor lighting or public ceremonies, larger sources of light were required, such as links and huge braziers piled with resinous wood. This knowledge of lighting methods was passed down from the Native Americans to the new settlers, who adapted and contributed their own techniques, such as using beeswax and bayberry shrub berries for candle-making.
The pine knot method was a sustainable and accessible solution for lighting in the early days of European settlement in America. It showcases the ingenuity and adaptability of both the Native Americans and the settlers as they navigated the challenges of their surroundings and worked together to illuminate their surroundings.
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Frequently asked questions
There is little evidence of candles being used in early America before the arrival of Columbus. However, it is hard to prove their absence. Candles made from beeswax were in use and preferred, but they were limited and expensive to make.
Yes, Native Americans used resinous torches made from pine-wood (ocotl) indoors. They also used braziers, which are containers for hot coals, outdoors. They also developed a quick and inexpensive method of lighting by using the pine knot or candle-wood.
The candles were made of beeswax.
No, in the Middle Ages, candles were made from animal fat (tallow). However, these candles produced a smoky flame and a foul, acrid odour.
Yes, Native Americans used beeswax candles, which they may have acquired from the Spanish.
