This historic bone spreader came from a famous German collection.

A bone spreader was used to secure a porcupine hair roach. It is believed this spreader is made from the shoulder blade of a buffalo. It was cut into interesting patters, then colored with juice, probably from chokecherries.

In the early days a roach was worn, in lieu of a hat, as protection from the sun. A small bunch of hair would go through the porcupine roach's center, then through the spreader and be skewered with a pin. The center holes on the spreader would be attached to the cylinder bones to which a coup feather would be added to each upright bone.