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Pre-Columbian Archaeology of North America Week 2: History of Archaeology in North America: Pre-Twentieth Century.

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Presentation on theme: "Pre-Columbian Archaeology of North America Week 2: History of Archaeology in North America: Pre-Twentieth Century."— Presentation transcript:

1 Pre-Columbian Archaeology of North America Week 2: History of Archaeology in North America: Pre-Twentieth Century

2 Critical concepts Archaeology as political Nationalist vs. colonialist archaeologies Nationalist archaeology Nationalist archaeology Germany (Gustaf Kossinna), Mexico, China, Israel Colonial archaeologies Colonial archaeologies Africa (Great Zimbabwe), the United States, Australia Great ZimbabweGreat Zimbabwe Key works: Key works: “Nationalism and Archaeology: On the Constructions of Nations and the Reconstructions of the Remote past” by Philip L. Kohl in Annual Review of Anthropology, Vol. 27. (1998), pp. 223-246. “Alternative Archaeologies: Nationalist, Colonialist, Imperialist” by Bruce G. Trigger in Man, New Series, Vol. 19, No. 3. (Sep., 1984), pp. 355-370. Paradigm problems for Europeans in the 16 th century Biblical “knowledge” and absence of references to Indians (Noah and the Great Flood) “Incompatibility” of European preconceptions with reality Monumental architecture Monumental architecture Perceived savagery and technological backwardness (wheel, etc.) Perceived savagery and technological backwardness (wheel, etc.)

3 Great Zimbabwe (Africa) Great Zimbabwe (Africa)

4 Great Zimbabwe (Africa)

5 Teotihuacan Pyramids of the Sun and Moon c. 100 A.D.

6 Spanish Impacts Destruction of much of the written culture of Central American Indians Aztec and Maya Codices Aztec and Maya Codices Hernando De Soto Entrada across the southeast Entrada across the southeastsoutheast 1539-42 1539-42 Towns with mounds still occupied Towns with mounds still occupied José de Acosta, Historia Natural y Moral de las Indias (1589) First to hypothesize about the origins of Indians First to hypothesize about the origins of Indians proposed land crossing without knowledge of Bering Straits (only discovered in 1788) proposed land crossing without knowledge of Bering Straits (only discovered in 1788)

7 The Beginnings in the United States Thomas Jefferson Author of “Declaration of Independence (1776), third president of the United States (1801-1809), founder of University of Virginia Author of “Declaration of Independence (1776), third president of the United States (1801-1809), founder of University of Virginia Notes on the State of Virginia (1787) Notes on the State of Virginia (1787) “Query XI: A description of the Indians established in that State” Challenged views Challenged views First systematic excavation in North America First systematic excavation in North America First systematic excavation in North America First systematic excavation in North America Considered to be the “father” of American archaeology Considered to be the “father” of American archaeology

8 The Nineteenth Century The Nineteenth Century Hundreds of earthen mounds found throughout eastern North America Temple Mounds Temple Mounds Temple Mounds Temple Mounds Flat-top mounds with structures on summit Flat-top mounds with structures on summit Zoomorphic mounds Zoomorphic mounds Zoomorphic mounds Zoomorphic mounds Mounds in the shape of animals, most commonly reptiles (snakes) and birds Mounds in the shape of animals, most commonly reptiles (snakes) and birds Geometric Mounds Geometric Mounds Geometric Mounds Geometric Mounds Rectilinear and circular/oval forms, usually quite low. Function unclear Rectilinear and circular/oval forms, usually quite low. Function unclear

9 Cahokia (Illinois) Cahokia (Illinois) c. 1000 A.D. c. 1000 A.D. Complex of 10 large population centers and numerous farming villages Complex of 10 large population centers and numerous farming villages Several hundred moundsSeveral hundred mounds, 45 major mounds Several hundred mounds Monk’s Mound Monk’s Mound – largest Monk’s Mound

10 Cahokia - Reconstruction

11 Monk’s Mound Monk’s Mound 304x220x30m – base covers 6.4 ha volume: 63,000 cubic meters Monk’s Mound

12 – 405 meters long, avg. 1 meter high Great Serpent Mound (Ohio) Great Serpent Mound (Ohio)

13 Newark Mounds (Ohio) Newark Mounds (Ohio) Overall length 4 km, area 10.3 sq. km Largest circle: diameter: 358 m, max. 4 m divergence

14 Explanations for moundbuilders Caleb Atwater (early 1800s) Non-Indian, pre-Flood Non-Indian, pre-Flood Dr. James H. McColloh: Researches in North America (1817-1829) Indians could have built mounds Indians could have built mounds Dr. Samuel George Morton: Crania Americana (1839) Earlier, more civilized Indians (Toltecans) were responsible. Contemporary Indians (Barbarous) could not have built the mounds Earlier, more civilized Indians (Toltecans) were responsible. Contemporary Indians (Barbarous) could not have built the mounds

15 The Classificatory-Descriptive Period (1840-1914) Ephraim Squire and Edwin Hamilton Davis 1848 1848 Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley First publication of the Smithsonian Institution Moundbuilders of a different race Indians lacked sophistication to build mounds Samuel Haven 1856 1856 Librarian of American Antiquarian Society Librarian of American Antiquarian Society Evidence inconsistent with “lost race” Evidence inconsistent with “lost race”

16 New Institutions and Theories Smithsonian Institution 1846 1846 Peabody Museum Harvard University Harvard University 1868-75 1868-75 Charles Lyell Principles of Geology (1840) Principles of Geology (1840) Charles Darwin On the Origin of Species (1859) On the Origin of Species (1859)

17 Smithsonian Bureau of Ethnology Lead by John Wesley Powell Lead by John Wesley Powell First American to travel Colorado River, “discoverer” of Grand Canyon Grand CanyonGrand Canyon Cyrus Thomas Cyrus Thomas1894 Dismantles “lost moundbuilder race” theory Dismantles “lost moundbuilder race” theory William Henry Holmes William Henry Holmes Strong background in geology First ceramic typologies (for eastern North America)

18 Beginnings of Important Regional Research Adolf Bandelier 1892 Develops chronology of Rio Grand region (Pueblo Cultures) Rio Grand region Pueblo CulturesRio Grand region Pueblo Cultures Max Uhle Works with ethnologist Alfred Kroeber (University of California) 1907 Investigates cultural change in San Francisco Bay Area (Emeryville shellmound - midden) San Francisco Emeryville shellmound San Francisco Emeryville shellmound

19 Bandelier National Monument Tyuonyi Pueblo

20 Emeryville Shellmound salvage operations in 1924

21 The Czech Connection Aleš Hrdlička Dominant figure in physical anthropology in North America in first half of 20 th century Dominant figure in physical anthropology in North America in first half of 20 th century 1903 – joins what is now the American Museum of Natural History (New York) 1903 – joins what is now the American Museum of Natural History (New York) Rejected early (Pleistocene) arrival of Indians in North America Rejected early (Pleistocene) arrival of Indians in North America Earliest arrival c. 4000 BP Eventually 10,000 BP might be demonstrated Introduced demand for rigorous research methods impacted all branches of anthropological and archaeological research in North America Introduced demand for rigorous research methods impacted all branches of anthropological and archaeological research in North America

22 Week 2 – Sites (East) De Soto De Soto Monticello Cahokia Serpent Newark

23 Week 2 – Sites (West) Grand Canyon Grand Canyon Bandelier Emeryville


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