This is an image of hook shaped cactus spines bound with some kind of vine. It came from an Indian cave dwelling on the Rio Grande River.
Scientist have aged it at approximately 500 years old. Just can't figure out why they would tie them in a bundle unless they carried it with them to make a fire.

Any ideas ?

Fire, food or medicine maybe.

back scratcher

Butt whooper

tatooing tool or a pig castator

I wonder if the spines are fibrous. If so perhaps kept for processing into cordage later on.

Prayer stick...

TP

I'd guess some sort of writing or tattoo item, some tribes were a lot about dressing up and design work on them selves as well as leaving pic's and carving on their clay work.

It was probably used for counting coup. It would mark an enemy, without causing serious harm, showing how brave the warrior who used it was.

Keith

That's what I though as soon as I saw the pic.

Looks kind of like those bundles of twigs people in saunas use to bear themselves with

Very possible as there are pictographs on the wall of the cave.

Knowing the actual size would be helpful. If it is big enough to be a back scratching tool it won't make a good writing or drawing tool. I don't know if there is any significance to the fact that there both the longer and shorter 3 stems are cut to equal lengths. If they used horses could it be a tool to motivate horses?

Bryce

Sewing needless?

my guess would be something used in ceremonial dance or religious affair.

Weed pipe.

I wouldn't carry loose fish hooks on me!

I think at times some of the caves were occupied by basket weavers. Maybe these were used in their trade and they bound them together so as not to lose them !

It was their method of birth control.