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American
Anthropologist
A. M. T. The Putnam Anniversary. American Anthropologist. 1909 Vol. 11: 285-288. Although the identity of the author, A.M.T., is not revealed, this article
is quite simple. The Putnam Anniversary was an anniversary volume of
Anthropological Essays compiled by friends and associates of Professor
Frederic Ward Putnam a Professor of Anthropology at This special occasion took place at the Hotel Somerset in Several other speakers followed after Boas. With the conclusion of those who spoke to honor him Professor Putnam then made some closing statements. He thanked his former teachers and he spoke of his enjoyment of seeing his students having prominent roles in the advancement of Anthropology. The rest of the evening was filled with the good wishings being expressed to Putnam by his friends, and then dinner came to a close. The Putnam anniversary is an excellent article about a significant event in the history of Anthropology. CLARITY RANKING: 5
Brannon, P.A. Aboriginal Remains
in the P.A. Brannon’s article focuses on three sites once occupied by the Lower Creek Indians in the Middle Chattahoochee Valley of Alabama and Georgia. The relics found at the sites reveal information regarding lifestyle, culture, and burial traditions. Variation among the sites is subtle, and the article does not go into great detail about propinquity nor tribal influence. The article does contain photographs of the artifacts, which accompany the text nicely. The Wacoochee Site is believed to be the earliest
inhabited site in the article. Its mound is nearly fifty feet in diameter,
and three feet high upon Brannon’s viewing.
Lying between the Wacoochee Creek and The second site, Abercrombie’s landing in The Kyle Mound in The author is basically giving an account of objects that were unearthed in the Middle Chattahoochee region. Brannon compares the relics between areas mentioned, but goes into little detail on how they influenced one another. CLARITY RANKING: 3
Brushnell, David
I. Jr. The
Various Uses of Brushnell gives detailed descriptions of the
ways in which Native Americans used the hair of the buffalo, which was
primarily hunted as a source of food. The article gives detailed descriptions
and provides pictures of many of the items that were produced from the
buffalo hair. Native Americans from different regions of Groups east of the The tribes west of the CLARITY RATING: 5
Chamberlin, Ralph V. Some Plant Names of the Ute Indians. American Anthropologist. 1909 Vol. 11: 27-40. Some Plant Names of the Ute Indians discusses phonetic relations of some related dialects among the Ute, Gosiute and Shoshone Language. The phonetic discussion is followed by a taxonomic list of plants, which were useful to the Ute Indians. The plants are listed alphabetically by their scientific name or Latin Binomial Classification. This is followed by its common name and then the Ute name given to the species. A second list is alphabetical according to the Ute Name of the plant. The data presented by Chamberlin was obtained in the spring of 1901 from Tungaip, a Uinta Ute Indian. During that spring the author was associated with the Gosiute Indians and became acquainted with Tungaip. The Gosuite People were apparently providing safe harbor for Tungaip, who was more or less excommunicated from his own Ute People for, reasons undisclosed by Chamberlin. Before listing the plants serviceable to the Ute, the author explains phonetic relationships between some related dialects. Chamberlin specifically discusses, what can be described as, interchangeable nominal endings to words with like meanings in separate dialects of a common language. These suffixes have specific descriptive meanings in their respective languages. The following text is an example of how one species appears in the author’s account of the list of plants furnished by Tungaip, the first list and the second list, respectively: Achillea millefolium L. Yarrow. i-am’-si-ta-gwiv: i-a, wound, etc., + m, +si-ta-gwiv, medicine. Applied externally on bruises, etc., and also used as a tea in case of sickness. i-am’-si-ta-gwiv. Achillea millefolium L. Yarrow. It is in this format that Chamberlin list nearly one hundred plant species. Edible and medicinal uses are cited for the appropriate species. The article demonstrates the elaborate knowledge of the Ute in relation to their environmental resources. Their knowledge and exploits of environmental resources creates a prolific list of serviceable species. Such information is timeless and exemplifies the wisdom which indigenous people possess. The authors writing in itself was confusing at certain points in the article. Chamberlin’s attempt to discuss linguistics; the phonetic relationship within respective dialects, was difficult to decipher. CLARITY RANKING: 4
Cole, Fay Cooper. Distribution of
the Non-Christian Tribes of Cole writes about the classification of various indigenous groups on CLARITY RANKING: 5
The author’s goal is to examine the evolution of the musical scale in human music. The author hypothesizes that to trace basic scale formation one has to go past the use of the pentatonic scale of five notes, which is a more organized scale, to a time when tones were used in smaller groups. She bases most to her argument on her observational studies of early Native American and Filipino cultures conducted at the St. Louis World Fair. In making her point, the author considers music as first a channel of expression; next as a means of communication; and finally as a comprehensive art form that blends aspects of the first two stages. The author proposes emotion, a very powerful drive, as the source of some of the expressions that humans display through music. The author points to the prevalence of songs of love, songs of grief, songs reflecting on nature and songs with religious themes as means of expressing emotions. The author also expounded on the tendency of the songs used for conveying emotions to start on a high tone and end on a low tone; she found this downward trend in the majority of the hundreds of songs she recorded that were performed by the Chippewa people. The author points to the basic instinct of animals, and humans, to emit high-pitched sounds in the face of imminent danger as explanation for the downward trend. The author further investigates the "high tone." She sets out to understand, from research done in the area of "uncivilized music," "ancient folk music, "and "ancient ecclesiastical music" tone intervals. The author analyses the break in tones that the voice makes once it starts on the first high tone and descends to a low tone from these three (ancient, uncivilized and ancient ecclesiastical) perspectives. Towards the end of the article, the author looks at three phases (personal, social, and ceremonial) of musical expressions that is also seen in early cultures. The author suggests that these three kinds of musical expressions were present in a period when musical skills were primarily seen through the ability to improvise. Densmore reasons that when music developed into an art form, the experimental period of scale formations, as seen in past cultures, ended. The author does not set out to prove any theory. She presents data and discusses what the information she gathered might suggest. Some knowledge of music jargon is required to get a clear picture of the author’s explanation of high tone in relation to "ancient," "uncivilized," and "ancient ecclesiastical" music. CLARITY RATING: 4
Gilder, Robert F. Excavation of
Earth-Lodge Ruins in Gilder discovered the remains of an Oto village
north of the mouth of the The article concentrates on the dwellings of the Oto. There was one house in particular that contained materials that were different from the surrounding homes. Gilder primarily concentrates on how this dwelling was possibly constructed as well as its contents. The objects found in the study were given to Mr. Lowrey Childs, the owner of the property on which this dwelling was located. In the house, the fireplace was located in the center. It was about four to five feet in diameter. The floor around the fireplace extended about ten feet meeting a platform about twelve to fourteen inches high. In the inner part of the floor, posts were discovered that were six or seven inches in diameter and located about five feet apart. The angle that these posts were situated indicates that the roof of the dwelling was about fifteen feet above the fireplace in the center. The floor seemed to be composed of clay that contained large amounts of ash and flakes of charcoal. Most of the objects were found beneath the floor and covered with boulders
as if they were purposely placed there to mark the spot. Among the objects
discovered were flint blades, shells, a muller,
and a clay pipe in the form of a soaring bird. So many objects were found
in the ruin, that Gilder thinks it had been abandoned in haste and burned
to the ground. Human remains were found on the site of the ruin. They
were sent to the Gilder dug around the area outside of the houses and found numerous hordes. He describes these in great detail, listing their contents. They are categorized by stone, shell, pottery, pottery pipes, objects of bone and antler, caches, and sculpture. Attached to this article is a postscript discussing discovery of human
remains by Gilder’s associates after his work
had been completed as well as a report on the skeletal remains by Ales Hrdlicka. Hrdlicka is the man
who studied the human remains when they were sent to the CLARITY RANKING: 4
Harrington, John P. Note on the Piro Language. American Anthropologist 1909 11:563-593. Note on the Piro Language by John P. Harrington, this author gives a brief history of the Piro as well as an overview of what may be the only written record of some of the Piro’s language. Harrington acknowledges that he was not able to seek out many individuals who may have knowledge of the Piro language due to the limited amount time that he had allotted for his research. He urges that it is very important for someone to take the time and seek out individuals who may still have some knowledge of this language before it is lost forever. Harrington fears that it may already be too late. With the help of Dr. J. R. Swanton of the Bureau of American Ethnology,
Harrington provides a comparative lexical analysis of of Piro, Isleta del Sur, Isleta, CLARITY: 3
Harrington, M.R. Some Unusual Iroquois Specimens. American Anthropologist, 1909 Vol. 11:85-91 While collecting ethnological material, the author found some unusual Canadian Iroquois specimens in 1907. One of the most interesting specimens is a round bowl made of wood with knots in it. This is rare, because most domestic bowls made by the Iroquois are usually elongated trays. Only bowls made for gambling games are round. This particular bowl has carved handles representing two figures with their arms over each other’s shoulders. The author describes two prehistoric clubs he acquired from the Cayuga of the Six Nations Reserve. One has a prehistoric flint blade embedded in it. "Witch medicine" is also a member of the author’s collection. The Iroquois believed that the possession of this "witch medicine" would protect the person from harm. They are carved pieces of wood with depictions of faces or animals carved into them. They come with a deerskin cover to protect them. The Iroquois believe that dreams are very important. There are a group of mythic dwarfs named Stone-Rollers who appeared to Iroquois in dreams. They promised the Iroquois protection and assistance if that person would carve a miniature version of the dwarf. The person would keep the miniature carving with them and even talk to it. Another spirit that would appear to Iroquois in dreams is a water sprite that would warn of danger by water. Therefore, for protection, the person would carry a miniature carving of a canoe with them. The author discusses a Native American tribe called the Tutelo who are so similar to the Iroquois that he felt it appropriate to mention them. The only thing that differentiates them from the Cayuga is a necklace called a wampum. It is made from shells flattened into discs. They are very decorative and used in a Tutelo adoption ceremony. If a member of a Tutelo family passed away, the family members could select an outsider to take the place of the deceased. The outsider would wear the wampum during the adoption ceremony. Harrington does not make any theoretical claims, but he does describe the specimens in great detail. CLARITY RANKING: 4 MAUREEN YOUNG:
Hewett, Edgar L. The Excavations at Tyuonyi, New Mexico, in 1908. American Anthropologist July-September, 1909 Vol. 11(3):434-455. Continuing the work of A.F. Bandelier’s previous archaeological
work in the Rio Grande Valley, Edgar L. Hewett relates the findings made
by the School of American Archaeology’s 1908 excavations in the
Rito de Frijoles region of New Mexico. The Rito de Frijoles valley is located within a canyon accessible only by a series of trails. Within this valley lies the archaeological site of the Tyuonyi villages, consisting of five community houses as well as a series of cliff-houses that extend for over a mile on the northern wall of the canyon. These cliff-houses are also what Hewett refers to as talus pueblos, meaning that the rooms were not actually independent domiciles, but the back rooms of houses built upon the cliff wall. While Hewett describes these dwellings in passing, the focus of the archaeological excavation was on the community house of Tyuonyi. A circular terraced structure, it was originally built of blocks of volcanic tufa and seems to have been originally three stories in height. Unlike most of the similar structures within the Southwest, it exhibits no signs of growth by accretion, suggesting that the building was planned and built at one time. Overall, forty four rooms were excavated in the house, and the building itself seems to have been built primarily for defense purposes. The remains of three kivas, or circular subterranean ceremonial chambers, were also excavated, although no evidence of an altar was found in any of them. A variety of other structures and features are then described from around the site, including a circular platform that was possibly the floor of an above-ground kiva, a ceremonial cave, and a series of burials found within the talus. While Hewett relates the findings of the 1908 excavations, he makes it very clear that the results described within the article are merely preliminary observations, and will be touched upon in greater depth in the official site report of the area, as well as in continued field excavations at the site that were to continue in the following year. CLARITY: 4 ASHLEY DAILIDE Loyola University Chicago (Kathleen Adams)
Hewett, Edgar L. The Excavations At El Rito De Los Frijoles In 1909. American Anthropologist 1909 Vol.11:651-673. This article details the continued excavation of the archeological site
known as El Rito de los Frijoles
located in First, the author exhaustively details the architecture of several structures
that were uncovered in 1909. The structures were constructed in the manner
of the In the later part of the article, Hewett attempts to link the excavation site with a specific group of people by using the language and mythology of several Native North American tribes. Hewett extensively details various possible linguistic and mythological links to the site. However, despite exhaustive research, it seems that the team was unable to definitively link one specific group to the site. Despite the inconclusive evidence linking the site to one specific group, the multi-field approach taken by the team seems noteworthy, as it is reminiscent of the Boasian method. CLARITY: 2
Kroeber, A. L. The Bannock and Shoshoni Languages. American Anthropologist 1909 Vol. 11: 266-275 The article opens with a brief dissection of the Shoshoni language, breaking it down into the various dialects it is suspected of being the parent language. Kroeber discusses the imperfect as well as incomplete historic background of the linguistic branches of the Shoshoni dialectic group. The article further mentions that scattered records by various observers using different, and sometimes conflicting, methods were previously used for linguistic background data on the various dialects of the Ute-Aztecan family. All of which, the author states, does little to help us better understand the languages in question. Kroeber continues by presenting geographical background information on where Shoshoni and its various dialects are spoken. The article proceeds with greater detail concerning the linguistic foundation
and structure of both the Bannock and Shoshoni languages. Kroeber sets
out to examine the classification of the Shoshonean language
utilizing additional data on Bannock and Shoshoni that
he had collected from members of each group who had visited the The author presents strong linguistic data to support his analysis of Bannock and Shoshoni, and their related dialectic branches in the Ute-Aztecan family. The article gives the reader a highly detailed conception of the morphologic relation of both languages to each other, as well as their phonetic use. Kroeber ends the article with a brief and basic vocabulary table comparing Bannock and Shoshoni in their usage of foundational words (i.e. numbers, body-parts, animals, etc.). CLARITY RANKING: 5
Kroeber, A. L. The author of this article uses an account by Dr. S.A. Barrett to make
some summaries and conclusions about the basketry of the Pomo.
In comparison with other tribes, Kroeber found
that the Pomo were unique in their basket making.
In order to present the uniqueness of the Pomo,
the author describes several basket making processes that separate the Pomo from all other tribes; techniques employed, direction
of the weaving, decorating, the naming of designs, and materials used.
In addition, the author also discusses some similarities of basket making
among all the tribes in The author believes that the Pomo are the
only group in From the evidence provided, Kroeber makes the conclusion that basketry among the Pomo had an independent, special, and uncommon development, which can be seen among the large wealth and variety of technical and artistic functions. CLARITY: 4
Lumholtz, Carl. A
Remarkable Ceremonial Vessel from The author’s objective in this article is
to describe an ancient Mexican piece of pottery that was acquired in
the state of CLARITY RANKING: 5
MacCurdy, Grant George. Eolithic
and Paleolithic George MacCurdy’s article "Eolithic and Paleolithic Man" presents information on early discoveries of prehistoric archeology of early humans. The main focus of this article is the discoveries of prehistoric ancestors of Homo sapiens .The first finding was in a sandpit found near a village in Maur in the year 1907. This finding was of a jawbone that was located in the lower Quaternary. The second finding was found in the village of La Chapelle-aux Saintes in CLARITY RANKING: 5
Mathews, R.H. The Dhudhuroa Language
of The main constituent of this brief article is a lexical list of about
235 words collected by Mathews from native speakers of the Dhudhuroa language.
The Dyinningmiddhang tribe on the Mitta Mitta and Kiewa rivers, and along the The author prefaces the article with references to several of his previously published articles regarding the cultural area in question. The referenced articles contain information on related languages, initiation ceremonies, and kinship patterns. Following that, Mathews gives a short description of the grammar of Dhudhuroa. The main feature of the grammar is that nouns and pronouns are subject to inflection for number, gender, and case, with the adjectives, verbs, and adverbs complimenting them in number, gender and case. Additionally, Mathews notes that there are few interjections and exclamations, and there appears to be only four numerical categories, one, two, three (or a few), and many. The article is concluded with the vocabulary list and the English equivalent of the words. CLARITY: 4
MacCurdy, George
Grant. Anthropology
at the MacCurdy provides notes from the joint meeting
of Section H of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
and the American Folk-Lore Society. The meeting was held at the Maryland
Institute in MacCurdy goes over the names of the officers and the members of the Council, including Dr. Franz Boas, who acted as chairman of the Sectional Committee. The membership growth in the last year had been normal, and 56 new names submitted for election are listed. MacCurdy encourages fellow members to recruit more. The treasurer's report is presented, followed by various appointments and motions passed by the Association. Several reports by different committees are described. Dr. George A. Dorsey gives an account of his trip through MacCurdy mentions several other papers presented at the meeting, and gives a list of fifteen more. The report of the Committee on Archaeological Nomenclature is also presented here. The purpose of this report is to list and define terms relating to clay vessels. The classifications are based on form alone; the committee had made an effort to leave out any names based on assumed uses. CLARITY RANKING: 5 SARA DALTON:
Morley, Sylvanus G. The
Inscriptions of Naranjo, In this article, Sylvanus G. Morley discusses
inscriptions found on objects located in the ancient city of Morley’s main purpose is to describe the inscriptions of Naranjo in order to explain the history of the city’s architectural productivity. Before beginning, it is important for the reader to understand the term stelae. A stelae is a stone slab that contains inscriptions or carvings and serves a commemorative purpose. The stelae discussed in Morley’s article contain inscriptions of Mayan glyphs (writing script). From Maler’s information, Morley knows that there are 32 stelae and one stairway that contain hieroglyphic inscriptions. Of these, only 20 stelae could be studied due to weathering. Morley includes a helpful map of the site, which labels the five courts, buildings, and stelae. He then goes on to chart out each of the 20 stelae in terms of position on site, date of origin, and location of glyphs on stelae. It is assumed that the reader understands Mayan chronology. Next Morley makes the connection between the chart and the history of Naranjo, which he concludes took place in three periods
of architectural productivity. The first period involves only one single
inscription located on a lintel (a beam that supports a door or window). Morely goes on to describe the stelae and
staircase, which are dated in the second and third periods. Through these, he attempts to show the changing
architectural productivity of the city of While Morley does give good chronological descriptions of the inscriptions of Naranjo, readers will only understand them if they have a solid knowledge of Mayan chronology. Though someone with sufficient knowledge of Mayan chronology will most likely appreciate the historical implications that Morley is trying to make, the average reader may struggle to fully understand Morley’s analysis of the inscriptions of Naranjo. CLARITY RANKING: 3 ALISON SZOPINSKI
Orchard, W. C. Notes on Penobscot Houses. American Anthropologist 1909 Vol.11:601-606. The author's intention in this article is to describe in detail how
the Penobscot, from Orchard first explains the process of building the conical bark shelter. This is done basically by using a framework of two sets of wood poles (one interior to the other) placed at certain positions, gathered at the top, and using the inner poles to support the bark wrappings. He provides specifications for the dimensions of the shelter, type and cut of wood to be used, length of wood needed, how many poles, where they should be placed, and how the bark should be wrapped around the poles. In addition to written instructions, Orchard supplies a picture and a diagram for the placement of the support poles. Also included in his diagram, are the proper placement settings for beds and a fireplace. The square bark shelter is used, as Orchard states, for more permanent dwellings or for better cold protection. Orchard characterizes the square bark shelter as having the bottom floor section made up of tiers of logs, and the upper section made from bark, which is supported by poles. As he did with the conical bark shelter, Orchard supplies dimensions, pole length, pole placement, and specifications on how to wrap the bark around the poles. Unlike the conical bark shelter, the square bark shelter employs moss, leaves and earth packed between bark and pole layers and also on the exterior of the dwelling to further protect against the wind and cold. It is also noted that the placement of the interior fireplace and beddings is like that of the conical bark shelter. This article is descriptive and efficiently written- with the simple instructions Orchard provides, it is easy to see oneself building a similar shelter with little trouble. The only point of dispute for this article, was the absence of many of the Penobscot, due to trading, at the time of his research. Therefore the information gathered could not, as Orchard put it, "…be verified to the fullest extent." In addition, Orchard mentions a third type of bark shelter, but he does not elaborate any further, believing the information too vague to be used. CLARITY: 5
Parker, Arthur C. Secret Medicine Societies Of The Seneca. American Anthropologist April-June, 1909 Vol. 11(2):161-185. The article "Secret Medicine Societies of the Seneca", by Arthur C. Parker, is a detailed account of this author’s personal fieldwork among the various sects of Iroquois. His work focuses on secret orders and societies of the Iroquois at the time this article was published in 1909. Parker had spent six years gathering data to prove the existence of secret societies. This information was not readily volunteered by any Native American group and the existence of such societies had been denied. This author would have had to acquire considerable trust among the Iroquois to be given access to such information. In this article, Parker gives a brief summary of The Little Water Company, The Society of Otters, The Eagle Society, The Bear Society, The Buffalo Society, Society of Mystic Animals, The Woman’s Society, The False-Face Company, Chanters of the Dead and the The Husk-Faces, all of which are considered secret societies. Parker also includes his translation of the opening ceremony of the Pygmy Society as well as some native dances. Parker has included photos and sketches of ritual objects used within these societies. The author furthermore acknowledges that by 1909 most of the Medicine Lodges had disappeared and were incorporated within these secret societies. Parker’s data appears to be thoroughly researched and well documented. He seems to one of the first to examine these secret societies in great detail. CLARITY: 5 KAREN McCARTHY:
Parker, Arthur C. Snow-Snake as Played by the Seneca-Iroquois. American Anthropologist Apr.-Jun., 1909 Vol. 11 (2): 250-256. This article is a written account of a special winter game that the Seneca-Iroquois played as observed and documented by Arthur C. Parker in 1905-06. Parker studied the Seneca-Iroquois to record different elements of the Seneca-Iroquois lifestyle for the New York State Library and the New York State Museum. Parker’s detailed notations on the snow-snake game include information about the snow-snakes, directions and regulations for playing the game and even terminology and phrases typically stated in a snow-snake game. “The snow-snake,” according to Parker, “is a smooth, polished, flexible stick, from five to nine feet in length. The average stick is an inch broad at the head, and tapers down to nearly half an inch at the tail or finger end” (250). Parker describes the snow-snakes in great detail. The head of the snow-snake is inverted and the tail is usually treated in lead or undergoes a process of charring and scraping to form a distinct contour, which is significant in reaching farther distances in the game. Parker provides drawings of different snow-snakes created from different wood varieties to illustrate the large array of choice. It is thought different wood varieties work better in different snow conditions. Also, the Seneca-Iroquois have a medicine man anoint the snow-snakes with diverse ointments such as tallow, wax, oils or gums. After the playing area, or track, is laid out by dragging a log a 90 to 120-rod distance, two players or teams make wagers and begin the snow-snake game. Between two to four umpires judge the competition as the snow-snakes are hurled onto the track and glide along the snow to earn points for distance. A variation of the snow-snake game involves the players gliding the sticks towards each other attempting to reach a central mark first. Parker’s article clearly outlines the materials used in snow-snakes and the process of constructing the actual snow-snakes. He demonstrates knowledge of Seneca-Iroquois language and traditions and applies this understanding in his description to readers who are probably not as familiar with the Seneca-Iroquois culture. An example of this is his use of the native language to describe instruments with a clear translation of the phrases. Parker’s article records details such as distances and accurate depictions of the scene including what the competitors cheer in certain situations. For example, Parker states what a spectator might jeer should the snow-snake spear the snow or glide out of the smooth, marked trough. Overall his article offers exceptional documentation of the Seneca-Iroquois game of snow-snake. CLARITY: 5 MAGGIE E. SCHIRACK Loyola University Chicago (Kathleen Adams)
Peabody, Charles. A Reconnaissance
Trip in The author describes the equipment and provisions taken on the trip,
including a mountain wagon, two mules, and a horse. Along with CLARITY RANKING: 5 SARA DALTON:
Perkins, G.H. Aboriginal Remains
in the In this article Perkins examines aboriginal remains that were collected
from the eastern portion of the The most common examples and forms of artifacts are chipped points. These are usually made of quartz or other siliceous mediums in a triangular form. Objects such as knives, scrapers, and drills are the tools resulting from chipped points. Slate knives differ from chipped points in material, hardness, and the fact they were ground rather than chipped. Little explanation of their usage is given. Gouges are highly polished stones with sharp edges generally six to eight inches in length. Their purpose is uncertain, and the majority of them are found in excellent condition. One theory mentions that they were used for hallowing out canoes after being torched. A cruder form of gouge known as celts are mentioned for comparison. Bone implements are discussed in the article, but are not abundant. Various animal teeth may have been used for decorating and carving pottery, or used for ornamental purposes. More rare than bone implements are shells, beads created for the purpose of ornamentation. Earthenware is discussed, and various forms and mediums are common, though few remain because they are fragile. The author discusses three entire jars that were found in the vicinity of the Champlain in some detail. The article concludes mentioning artifacts of copper and iron. Copper is said to be rare of the region but does cite a few examples of knives and celts. Iron was incorporated when Europeans first ventured to the area and began trade. Iron Axes and other artifacts are elaborated on. This article gives a straightforward and detailed account of aboriginal
remains found in the CLARITY RANKING: 4
J. D. Prince. A Passamaquoddy Aviator. American Anthropologist October-December, 1909 Vol.11(4):628-650. The article presents a Passamaquoddy text with interlinear literal translation of a tale transcribed and given to the author by a member the Passamaquoddy tribe of Maine. The story is followed by a detailed morphological analysis of the text. In presenting the translated tale, the author’s aim is to preserve in some form one facet of this group’s culture before it disappears. The tale recounts the story of Zosap (or Joseph) and his travels, enabled by the magic of an old woman. Because Zosap brought food to the nearly blind woman, she rewarded him by casting a spell on his axe. He made wooden moccasins with the axe and was then able to outrun all the animals in the forest. His two brothers became jealous of his increased hunting prowess and eventually fashioned moccasins of their own out of the discarded woodchips from Zosap’s moccasins. Zosap again brought food to the old woman and she told him this time to build a dugout, which he did. In his magical dugout he was able to catch a huge fish. The brothers made their own dugout from Zosap’s leftover woodchips and caught whales with their dugout. An angry Zosap brought still more food to the old woman. She told him to build a canoe that would enable him to fly. He built it and then burned the woodchips. He set off in his flying canoe and eventually came across Nepelesebisit, a man armed with bow and arrows. The two then flew on until they encountered an old man named Cheekalakohojin who almost blew them away when he said “I am the warrior.” This man also came aboard and they flew on until reaching an island inhabited by Wutchowsn. He joined the other three aboard Zosap’s canoe and they continued on. They eventually landed among a warlike people. There the chief proposed that the one who could beat his daughter in a race could marry her. Nepelesebisit was chosen to compete but was tricked into falling asleep in the girl’s lap. While the girl ran ahead, Cheekalakohojin shot Nepelesebisit with an arrow to wake him. Wutchowsn then blew the wind to stop the girl in her tracks and let Nepelesebisit pass her by. Seeing that his daughter had lost the race, the chief gathered his men to fight Zosap and his warriors. They were cut off before they could get to the canoe but Wutchowsn opened up both his nostrils and blew the enemies away. The men returned home and lived in peace. Drawing from sources on the Passamaquoddy, Abenaki, Micmac, Natick, and Delaware languages, the author’s concluding commentary presents a linguistic analysis of the written tale. Passamaquoddy morphemes are linked to other neighboring Algonquin (or Algic) forms. CLARITY: 4 JULIEN LIBERT Loyola University Chicago (Kathleen Adams)
Sinclair, A. T. Tattooing of The North American Indians. American Anthropologist, New Series, Sep 1909 Vol. 11(3):362-258. This practice of adorning one’s body was a characteristic found in all Native American cultures. This article is written from a first hand account, and includes details about the process of tattooing and the reasons for tattoos (whether for ceremony, ritual, medicinal or esthetic purposes). The article also discusses how women’s bodies (rather than men’s bodies) were covered in tattoos n their particular groups. Accordingly, most married women had at least one tattoo. The author also discusses how the practice of tattooing reached distant areas, drawing on a diffusionist paradigm. Sinclair notes that there is a lack of information on tattooing for certain Indian groups. Many Western people of Sinclair’s day found native tattoos hideous and disdained the practice. Sinclair’s main message is that Indians did not look at tattooing as a disfigurement. They looked upon it as form of female beauty enhancement and as a demonstration of a warrior’s courage. The author’s data is taken from the first volume of Jesuits Relations,
a resume of annual reports resulting from a hundred years of missionary
work. The data in this article is presented in separate paragraphs addressing
particular regions, the explorer of the region and the contributor of
data and information from that area. However the Jesuit descriptions
did not include all of these accounts because they only noted the ones
that caught their attention. This led to an absence of information on
the practice of tattooing in certain areas. Sinclair stresses that in
order to obtain more data, researchers must understand Indian’s
culture, gain their trust, and pay close attention to all aspects of
tattooing. When missionaries and settlers arrived and Indians out-married, different cultures were introduced and the custom of tattooing soon started to fade. Sinclair emphasized that like the Indians themselves, the tattooing process was disappearing. CLARITY: 4 SAMUEL VILLASEÑOR Loyola University (Kathleen Adams).
Smith, Harlan I. Archaeological
Remains on the Coast of Harlan Smith, in the article Archaeological Remains on the Coast of Apparently the findings along this coast had been being published regularly.
In the previous issue according to Smith, artifacts such as several large
chipped points and a stone pipe (steatite) were found in a gravel pile.
An ancient village site was also found around this location, near Smith provides into detailed descriptions of objects found during these
expeditions. Words like convex, periphery and right angle are used in
the author’s description of the stone hammers. Objects such
as a stone hammer given to him by a local man. He points out that his
people collected similar hammers on the northern end of Located between Metlakatla, a village on a
barrier island off of Alaska’s Southern Coast,
and At this point Smith begins to elaborate on the shape of two oval stones found near the heaps. He states that because of their irregular shape and unusual chipping that these were probably used as tools and not just worn from the surf. Smith concludes that these objects may have been used as hand hammers. The author also located some grooved pebbles near Port Simpson believed to be recently made net sinkers inspired by an archaic design. The most significant text found in Harlan Smith’s article
is his depiction of the beaches near Harlan Smith’s exploration introduced many
significant archaeological sites to The American Museum of Natural History
and American Anthropology as well. At some points in this article the
author elaborates upon specimens that seem questionable as to their authenticity
as tools or just rocks worn by the surf. Smith’s article
did effectively familiarize its readers to the geographic region of his
research. Smith’s reconnaissance helped establish
in the historical record that the coastline of northern CLARITY RANKING: 4
The writer’s party found two chipped leaf-shaped
points of hard dark stone in the shells-heap at Comox.
The eastern coast of Vancouver Island is thought to be the northernmost
limit of artifacts such as these in CLARITY RANKING: 2
Stefansson, V. The
Eskimo Trade Jargon of The Eskimo Trade Jargon of Herschel Island provides a brief discussion
of the evolution and usage of a trade jargon used between Native North
Americans on The author notes that the trade jargon is based on "Eskimo" or Inuit language as opposed to a European language. He also notes that it is difficult for Europeans and Euro-Americans to fully understand the Inuit language due in part to the complicated inflectional morphology of the language. Furthermore, Stefansson says that while "whalers are supposed to be the masters in the polar tongues," they commonly make mistakes in the usage of the language. He expresses concern that some of these mistakes may get recorded on maps and be set forth as "authoritative" accounts. Stefansson not only details the trade jargon
of CLARITY: 3
Uhle, Max. Peruvian Throwing-Sticks. American Anthropologist. 1909 Vol.11:624-627. Uhle presents pictures and brief descriptions
of nineteen different Peruvian throwing-sticks and three arrows that
have been acquired by the Museo de Historia Nacional in The author comments that knowledge of ancient Peruvian throwing-sticks
was not acquired until recently. He mentions a few articles written by
other authors on the subject. Photographs of the throwing-sticks and
arrows are numbered one through twenty-two. Numbers one through eighteen
were found in the Chavina site. Most were in
excellent condition. The culture of Chavina is
similar to that of Numbers nineteen and twenty are parts of arrows found at Chavina and number twenty-one is an arrow from Nieveria. These were found alongside throwing-sticks and it is assumed that they were used together. The author notes that the small size of the arrows is surprising compared to the throwing-sticks. The Museo de Historia Nacional possesses many parts of arrows from Nieveria, such as reed shafts and wooden points with barbed hooks, some with carved faces. Number twenty-two is a throwing-stick from Nieveria 66.5 cm long featuring carved human figures. Uhle's opinion is that these throwing-sticks
are the continuation of the ancient throwing-sticks of Nazca.
These Nazca throwing-sticks are known mainly
through pictures on pottery, and are identical to numbers one through
eight. Similar also are the throwing-sticks of Moche and CLARITY RANKING: 5
Waterman, Thomas. Analysis of the Mission Indian Creation Story. American Anthropologist January, 1909 Vol.11(1):41-55. This article examines the similarities and differences between the mythology of the Luiseño, Diegueño, and Mohave tribes referring to ethnologies by Kroeber, DuBois, and Boscana. Through comparing the various aspects of this mythology, including the nature of origin, culture, and migration, Waterman purports that Luiseño and Mohave accounts are more closely linked than to that of the Diegueño, despite the Diegeuño’s linguistic ties to the Mohave. According to both Luiseño and Mohave accounts the origin of existence can be traced to the meeting of Sky, a man, and Earth, a woman: “things as they now are... came by birth from Earth as a mother” (45). Conversely, the Diegueño believe “that in the beginning everything was water,” and creation occurred through the brothers Tuchaipa and Yokomatis (45), not through the consummation of Earth and Sky. The emergence of a culture-hero also illuminates similarities between the Luiseño and Mohave. Wiyot, the culture-hero of the Luiseño, functions similarly to the Mohave characters, Matevilye and Mastamho, in being a “semi-divine hero” leading the people in migrations and establishing them into nations (49). The Diegueño, though attributing the emergence of culture to a great snake, have no heroic figure similar to Wiyot or Matevilye and Mastamho who establish the tribes’ location and traditions. In instances where similarities arise between the Diegueño and the Mohave Waterman concludes the relationships to be somewhat superficial. Both tribes migrate from the Wikami mountain to spread throughout the world; however, the Mohave believe there was a migration prior to the separation at the mountain whereas the Diegueño believe creation to have taken place at the mountain (52). To Waterman this similarity is “only in the terminology or etymology” (55) of the story, not in its narrative elements. In constructing his analysis, Waterman draws from thirteen different publications documenting Mission Indian creation myths. He places each article into a table illustrating its similarities and dissimilarities with the other articles; in doing so the surprising congruence of the Luiseño and Mohave tribes can be evidenced. Waterman questions the validity of certain sources including the writings of the Franciscan missionary, Boscana. In analyzing the origins of culture Boscana depicts the heroic role of Wiyot as that of an “earthly tyrant or despot”; Waterman attributes this atypical record to Boscana’s “own misconception as a churchman” (48). Watermen recognizes Boscana’s lack of cultural relativism, due to his role as a missionary, and openly discusses the subjectivity of Boscana’s accounts. Watermen’s essay reflects the changing ideologies of anthropology at the beginning of the twentieth century. Avoiding grand theories of unilinealism or diffusionism, Waterman relies more on collecting a plethora of data in order to understand more comprehensively Mission Indian mythology. Waterman goes further to reject diffusionism in some degree through recognizing the commonalities between distant cultures (the Luiseño and the Mohave) and the dichotomies between cultures sharing close ancestry (the Diegueño and the Mohave); this reveals that cultural traits are not always the product of cultural contact. CLARITY: 5 STEVEN DENNY Loyola University Chicago (Kathleen Adams)
Will, George |
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