Rawhide is untanned animal skin, usually from cattle, that has been cleaned and dried but not turned into leather. Unlike leather, which goes through a tanning process that makes it soft and supple, rawhide stays stiff and tough.

You've probably seen rawhide if you've been around dogs: those hard, bone-shaped chews in pet stores are made from rawhide. Dogs can gnaw on them for hours because rawhide is incredibly durable. Cowboys in the Old West used rawhide to make ropes, saddle parts, and drumheads because it was strong and readily available. When rawhide dries, it shrinks and becomes even tighter and harder, which makes it perfect for binding things together.

Working with rawhide requires skill because it's rigid when dry but becomes somewhat flexible when wet. Native American tribes used rawhide to make shields, containers, and snowshoe bindings. Today, craftspeople still use rawhide for traditional drums and some specialty items, though modern materials have replaced it for most purposes.