The game is very old upon this land; the articles used in playing it have been found in ancient graves, in the cliff dwellings of the Southwest and in various ruins scattered over the country.
Among the Pueblo tribes the articles used in types of this game appear among the paraphernalia on altars prepared for certain ceremonies.

From a study of these ceremonies in connection with the myths of the people it seems probable that the hoop used in this game represents the shield of the War God.

When the hoop has a netting that fills the center and covers the edges, the netting simulates the magic web of the Spider Woman, a person that frequently figures in the myths and stories of different tribes.

Her web generally serves as a protection furnished by her in a conflict.
The netted hoop appears as a decoration upon the interior of pottery bowls formerly made by the Indians of the Southwest.

In some of these bowls the netting is dotted with spots.