Introduction The study of the interaction between Mesoamerica and the North American indigenous populations has been conducted by archaeologists for generations now. Recent research expands upon the movements of the North American populations in the Mesoamerican territories back to the Archaic Period (Huckell). This research also expands understanding and realigning previous beliefs held by proceeding archaeologists concerning the origins of Mesoamerican artifacts excavated in the American Southwest. Archaeological evidence indicates that, with the exception the traditions of the maritime northwest, and Artic, the flow of movement within the entire North American population reinforces that concept that no one culture is left in an isolated …show more content…
Chaco Canyon is located in the arid desert steppe that is part of the Colorado Plateau, in what is today New Mexico. This area is known as the Four Corners, where the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona converge. Occupation of the canyon can be traced from Palo-Indian times, to early sedentary peoples of the Basketmaker traditions on to the Pueblo/ Anasazi traditions. Chaco Canyon has a history of evolving occupation and the outlier settlements collapse in A.D. 1140 after the A.D. 1130 peak of Chaco’s dominance. Chaco is completely abandoned around A.D. 1300 and would not see repopulation until the Navajo settles the canyon in A.D. 1720, (2.Noble, …show more content…
900, with the rise of ceremonial objects, (Judge, 4), is when the most known evidence of Mesoamerican trade and influence is shown. Research upon 33 macaw skeletons excavated in Pueblo Bonito, has shifted some of the previous thoughts on the timeline of their presence and use in the ceremonial context at Chaco Canyon. Originally attributed to the peak of Chaco, (A.D. 1040-1100), the use of macaw feathers and the keeping of macaws has been pushed back to the beginning of this rise, A.D. 900. (Powell,1), (Watson, 1). Within the surrounding cultures and including Chaco Canyon, more than 400 total remains of macaws have been excavated in the region, (Watson, 1).
Other sites within the Ancestral Pueblo sphere, such as Lavender Canyon, Utah of Mesa Verde influence, show the use of macaw feathers in ceremonial ways. A DNA study published in 1998, examines a ceremonial sash form a cave in Lavender Canyon, Utah. The sash contains 2000 feathers. The results of the study find that the origin of the feathers is from southern Mesoamerica (Borson, 133). The question is how did the feathers journey to the American Southwest, are the birds transported or are the feathers moved north alone. What is known is that the feathers are not from a local
The article states three competting theories about Chano Canyon and provides three theories. However, the professor explains that these theories are not correct and refutes each of the author 's reasons. First, the reading claims that the Chaco structure were purely residental, with each housing handred of people. The professor refutes this point by saying that this theiry can not be correct.
vii, 186. Gerald E. Poyo, the editor of the book Tejano Journey 1770-1850, is currently the Chair of the History Department and teaches courses in Latin American history and immigration at St. Mary University, San Antonio, Texas. Poyo accomplished his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Carolina, and his Masters of Arts in Latin/Latino American history at Texas State University. He furthered his education, completing his Doctorate (Ph.D.) From the University of Florida. Dr. Poyo has experience as a research associate and curator at the University of Texas, Institute of Texan Cultures at San Antonio.
Mann first describes going on a trip with his colleagues to Brazil to learn more about the culture there and explore the land on which the Indians lived. He states that his colleagues, Erickson and Balée, have radically challenged conventional notions of what the America’s were like before Columbus. He explains that when he went to school in the 70s’, he learned that the Indians had come across the Bering Strait roughly thirteen
As the goal of the writer was to educate, the book achieved success in both ways as the reader is left much more informed about early America than when they began reading the novel. The book covers the its main topics in three sections, Discovery, Conquest and Settlement. Each section includes information from various geographical regions in America with information pertaining to one of the specific sections above. Each section gave a comprehensive look at the main topic in a way that was easy to understand as well as
There were no less than three particular gatherings of Jumanos every living in an alternate area. One center zone was along the Rio Grande and Rio Concho streams in West Texas, in Old Mexico and in New Mexico. Another center district was on the Southern Plains. The third region is less know and was between these Rio Grande and the fields. Every one of the three of these gatherings appeared to go around a great deal and cover long separations.
Headdress Feathers The headdress is an eye-catching piece featuring feathers, roping and
The Maya and Cherokee colonialism is the “policy or practice of acquiring full, or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.” Both the Maya and Cherokee indigenous people had similar colonial experience involving different wars, and disease of their lands. The Maya colonial period was from 1520’s-1821. The civilization occupied a wide territory that included southeastern Mexico and northern Central America, and all of the territory now incorporated into the modern countries of Guatemala and Belize, as well as the western portions of Honduras and El Salvador.
As scientists believe, ancient culture, which gave rise to all the others, was the Olmec civilization. Therefore, all people of pre-Columbian America is characterized by several common features: hieroglyphic writing, illustrated books, calendar, human sacrifice, ritual ball game, belief in life after death, stepped pyramids. In this unit response, I would like to describe three main cultures in Mesoamerica: Olmec, Maya and Aztec. Despite occasional contenders for its title as the “Mother Culture” of Mesoamerica, the Olmec culture is still identified as the oldest sustained high civilization in Mesoamerica.
Native Americans are the indigenous people of the United States, they have an extensive rich history, and stories of sorrow and bravery. Within the lower 48 states are the Great Plains American tribes, these tribes live in a region where there are few trees with valleys and rolling hills. This is where the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma as well as many other tribes resides in. With quite a dearth tribe, their highest population being 3,522 present day, but although they weren’t large they are known for their abounding cultural tradition and past. The Ponca tribe of Oklahoma had a mixed culture of the Middle Mississippi and Plains people.
1. Paleo-Indians Paleo-Indians are described as the initial Americans, those who set forth the preliminaries of Native American culture. They trekked in bands of around fifteen to fifty individuals, around definite hunting terrains, establishing traditional gender roles of hunter-gatherers. It is agreed that such Paleo-Indians began inhabiting America after the final Ice Age, and that by 1300 B.C.E. human communities had expanded to the point of residing in multiple parts of North America. As these early Native Americans spread out, their sites ranged anywhere from northern Canada to Monte Verde, Chile.
When comparing the Southwest indians to the Eastern Woodlands indians I found there were some differences, in their homes, the indians in the Southwest had hut like homes made of stone or adobe while indians in the Eastern Woodlands had lodge like homes made from wood. Farming and hunting seemed to be big for the Eastern Woodlands, but most of the Southwest people were just gatherers and hunters when they could be, although there were some successful farmers. Both areas had hostile groups of people, but the two groups in the Southwest later became more settled and peaceful. The Eastern Woodlands and the Great Plains had a few differences, again their homes being one of them.
While some of the cultural norms and expectations varied slightly amongst the members of the Sioux, Navajo, and Cherokee tribes, it seems as though the cultural communicative behaviors and/or many of the norms and expectations were overall exceedingly similar across these three tribes. Thus, we feel that while culture may vary slightly across tribes through their rituals and ceremonies, cultural values and identities were more related and applied throughout the general Native American heritage, rather than being tribe
In the mid 16th to 19th century, the exploration of North America showed to be crucial to the survival of the settlers of the Americas. Here, they found bizarre, new things they had never seen on the easterly continents, which they had previously explored. Certain new things that intrigued them were new trees, insects, agriculture, and especially animals. Many of these animals such as the Buffalo, found in the western North American region, were used for a good source of food and livestock. However, certain animals that showed no help to the survival of the settlers were mostly killed off, including the Coyote (Canis Latrans).
“Red Willow” considers all aspects of an origin story’s purpose: the continuation of tradition, education of younger generations on societal rules, and the connection of cultural history to the natural world. The story carefully weaves references to death rituals, marriage customs, the roles of elders, and essential aspects of Nez Perce spirituality into its narrative. In context, these references are made through necessary plot points - the young woman’s death, her relationship to the young man, his subsequent guilt and freedom from punishment, the mother’s shamanic qualities, and the cause of the red willow’s hue – “it came to pass that the willow is red – of the maiden’s blood” (2). Although Nez Perce oral tradition allows for an origin myth such as “Red Willow” to be altered over generations of storytelling, its current form as a recorded and translated work allows for a glimpse into Nez Perce culture, values, and tradition at a specific point in
“Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress”, chapter one of “A People’s History of the United States”, written by professor and historian Howard Zinn, concentrates on a different perspective of major events in American history. It begins with the native Bahamian tribe of Arawaks welcoming the Spanish to their shores with gifts and kindness, only then for the reader to be disturbed by a log from Columbus himself – “They willingly traded everything they owned… They would make fine servants… With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.” (Zinn pg.1) In the work, Zinn continues explaining the unnecessary evils Columbus and his men committed unto the unsuspecting natives.