First Americans - Un Viaje Helado

8/10/2019 First Americans - Un Viaje Helado

1/9

1

THE FIRST AMERICANS

CORRECTING MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS

Most of the history that we acquire comes ot from history te!t"oo#s or c$assroom

$ectures "ut from ima%es that we recei&e from mo&ies' te$e&isio' chi$(hoo( stories' a(

fo$#$ore) To%ether' these ima%es e!ert a *owerfu$ if$uece u*o the way we thi# a"out

the *ast) Some of these ima%es are true+ others are fa$se) ,ut much of what we thi#

we #ow a"out the *ast cosists of ue!amie( mythic ima%es)

No as*ect of our *ast has "ee more thorou%h$y sha*e( "y *o*u$ar mytho$o%y tha the

history of Nati&e Americas) -uite ucoscious$y' Americas ha&e *ic#e( u* a com*$e!

set of mythic ima%es) .or e!am*$e' may assume that *re/Co$um"ia North America

was a s*arse$y *o*u$ate( &ir%i $a(+ i fact' the area orth of Me!ico *ro"a"$y ha(

se&e to twe$&e mi$$io iha"itats) A$so' whe may Americas thi# of ear$y I(ias'

they cocei&e of huters o horse"ac#) This ima%e is mis$ea(i% i two im*ortat

res*ects0 first' may Nati&e Americas were farmers+ a( seco(' horses ha( "eee!tict i the New 1or$( for 23'333 years "efore Euro*eas arri&e()

Oe of history4s most im*ortat tas#s is to i(etify myths a( miscoce*tios a(

correct them) This is es*ecia$$y im*ortat i the stu(y of the I(ia *eo*$es of North

America) May te!t"oo#s sti$$ "e%i their treatmet of America history with the

Euro*ea 5(isco&ery5 of the New 1or$(//$ar%e$y i%ori% the first Americas' who

crosse( ito the New 1or$( from Asia a( esta"$ishe( rich a( (i&erse cu$tures i

America ceturies "efore Co$um"us4s arri&a$) A$thou%h few te!t"oo#s to(ay use the

wor( 5*rimiti&e5 to (escri"e *re/cotact Nati&e Americas' may sti$$ co&ey the

im*ressio that North America I(ias cosiste( sim*$y of sma$$ mi%ratory "a(s that

su"siste( throu%h huti%' fishi%' a( %atheri% wi$( *$ats) As we sha$$ see' this &iew

is icorrect+ i fact' Nati&e America societies were rich' (i&erse' a( so*histicate()

Throu%hout their history' Nati&e Americas ha&e "ee (yamic a%ets of cha%e) .oo(

(isco&ere( a( (omesticate( "y Nati&e Americas wou$( trasform the (iet of Euro*e

a( Asia) Nati&e Americas a$so ma(e may crucia$//thou%h ofte e%$ecte(//

cotri"utios to mo(er me(icie' art' architecture' a( eco$o%y)

Duri% the thousa(s of years *rece(i% Euro*ea cotact' the Nati&e America *eo*$e

(e&e$o*e( i&eti&e a( creati&e cu$tures) They cu$ti&ate( *$ats for foo(' (yes'

me(icies' a( te!ti$es+ (omesticate( aima$s+ esta"$ishe( e!tesi&e *atters of tra(e+

"ui$t cities+ *ro(uce( moumeta$ architecture+ (e&e$o*e( itricate systems of

re$i%ious "e$iefs+ a( costructe( a wi(e &ariety of systems of socia$ a( *o$itica$

or%ai6atio ra%i% from #i/"ase( "a(s a( tri"es to city/states a( cofe(eratios)

Nati&e Americas ot o$y a(a*te( to (i&erse a( (ema(i% e&iromets' they a$so

resha*e( the atura$ e&iromets to meet their ee(s)

ORIGINS

I the s*ri% of 2789' a Africa/America cow"oy ame( Geor%e Mc:u#i ma(e a

(isco&ery that *rofou($y a$tere( our u(ersta(i% of the first Americas i North

America) 1hi$e huti% for $ost catt$e a$o% the e(%e of a %u$$y ear .o$som' New


2/9

2

Me!ico' he s*otte( some "$eache( "oes) Those "oes' it ture( out' were the ri"s of a

s*ecies of "iso that ha( "ee e!tict for 23'333 years) Mi!e( i with the "oes were

huma/ma(e stoe s*earhea(s) The s*earhea(s offere( the first uam"i%uous *roof

that acestors of to(ay4s I(ias $i&e( i the New 1or$( thousa(s of years ear$ier tha

most ear$y 83th cetury authorities "e$ie&e(//"efore the e( of the $ast ice a%e)

A$thou%h the first Euro*eas to arri&e i the Americas i the $ate 2;th cetury ca$$e( itthe 5New 1or$('5 it was a $a( that ha( "ee iha"ite( for more tha 83'333 years) A

eormous (i&ersity of societies f$ourishe(' each with its ow (isticti&e $a%ua%e'

cu$tura$ *atters' a( history) There are o writte recor(s that (ocumet these

histories) To recostruct this story' it is ecessary to tur to fra%i$e archaeo$o%ica$

artifacts that recor( *ast huma "eha&ior) .rom si**ets of "as#ets' fra%mets of

*ottery' foo( remais' (iscar(e( too$s' a( ora$ tra(itios' athro*o$o%ists'

archeo$o%ists' a( historias ha&e *iece( to%ether iformatio a"out these *eo*$es4

socia$ or%ai6atio' techo$o%y' a( (iet' ic$u(i% how these ha&e cha%e( o&er time)

This is a remar#a"$e story' which u(erscores the a"i$ity of the first Americas to a(a*t

to//a( resha*e//e!traor(iari$y (i&erse e&iromets' create their ow rich a(

so*histicate( cu$tures i(e*e(et of outsi(e if$ueces' a( esta"$ish e$a"orate

tra(i% etwor#s a( so*histicate( re$i%ious systems)

1he a( how the acestors of to(ay4s I(ias arri&e( i the New 1or$( remais oe

of the most cotro&ersia$ issues i archaeo$o%y) May 29th cetury Euro*eas "e$ie&e(

that the I(ias were (esce(ats of the ,i"$ica$ 5


3/9

3

The ori%ia$ sett$ers of North America were a remar#a"$y a(a*ta"$e *eo*$e' ca*a"$e of

sur&i&i% i su"free6i% tem*eratures i the tu(ra) I a c$imate much harsher tha

to(ay4s' they were a"$e to "ui$( fires' costruct hea&i$y isu$ate( housi%' a( ma#e

warm c$othes out of hi(es a( furs)

Des*ite a $ac# of whee$e( &ehic$es a( ri(i% aima$s' the first Americas s*rea(

quic#$y across North a( South America) This mometous mo&emet of *eo*$e was*ro*e$$e( "y *o*u$atio *ressure' sice huters a( %atherers require( a %reat (ea$ of

territory to su**ort themse$&es) Archaeo$o%ica$ fi(i%s su%%est that these *eo*$e

mo&e( a$o% three routes0 eastwar(' across Caa(a4s orther coast+ southwar(' a$o%

the Pacific Coast' as we$$ as across the easter Roc#y Moutais' with some %rou*s

*ee$i% off towar( the easter sea"oar(' the Ohio a$$ey' a( the Mississi**i a$$ey)

PREHISTORIC PATTERNS O. CHANGE

Near Bit Carso' Co$ora(o' archaeo$o%ists ma(e a astoishi% (isco&ery) There' they

fou( stoe s*earhea(s a$o%si(e the "oes of e!tict $o%/hore( "iso//e&i(ece of

a hu%e "iso hut arou( >833 ,)C) Duri% this hut' Nati&e Americas (ro&e some

833 "iso ito a %u$$y "efore #i$$i% the aima$s) To "utcher a( carry away the 93'333*ou(s of meat must ha&e require( at $east 2;3 I(ias wor#i% c$ose$y to%ether)

At ,at Ca&e i southwester New Me!ico archaeo$o%ists ma(e aother im*ortat fi()

There' they fou( e&i(ece that arou( 333 ,)C) I(ias ha( $eare( to (omesticate

cor' the first %row orth of Me!ico) It was a *rimiti&e form of cor' with sta$#s "are$y

a ich $o% a( o hus# to *rotect the #ere$s) Sti$$' it was a si% that these *eo*$e

were o $o%er who$$y (e*e(et o wi$( foo( sources+ they were ow a"$e to

su**$emet their (iet "y cu$ti&ati% cro*s)

It is from (isco&eries $i#e these that archaeo$o%ists recostruct the *rehistory of North

America4s I(ias) They ha&e fou( that the ear$iest New 1or$( *ioeers hute( $ar%e

mamma$s//"iso' cari"ou' o!e' a( mammoths//with stoe ti**e( s*ears a( s*ear a(

(art throwers' #ow as at$at$s) ,etwee 9'333 a( 28'333 years a%o' howe&er' may

$ar%e aima$ s*ecies "ecame e!tict) Archaeo$o%ists (o ot a%ree why these aima$s

(ie( out) Some ar%ue that it was the resu$t of o&er#i$$i%+ others attri"ute it to c$imatic

cha%es0 risi% tem*eratures' the (ryi% u* of may $a#es' a( the $oss of may ear$y

forms of &e%etatio) As a resu$t' the acestors of to(ay4s I(ias ha( to (ramatica$$y

a$ter their way of $ife)

As the $ar%er mamma$s (ie( out a( the I(ia *o*u$atio %rew' may I(ia *eo*$es

ture( to fora%i%' %atheri% *$at foo(s' fishi%' a( huti% sma$$er aima$s) To hut

sma$$ %ame' these *eo*$e (e&e$o*e( ew #i(s of wea*os' ic$u(i% s*ears with

"ar"e( *oits' the "ow a( arrow' a( ets a( hoo#s for fishi%) This era' #ow as

the Archaic *erio(' offers may e!am*$es of these *eo*$es4 icreasi% techo$o%ica$

so*histicatio' e&i(et i the *ro$iferatio of such o"ects as aw$s' a!es' "oats' c$oth'(arts' mi$$stoes' a( wo&e "as#ets)

.o$$owi% the Archaic *erio( comes the .ormati&e *erio(' whe some fora%ers "e%a

to (omesticate wi$( see(s) ,y 333 ,)C)' some %rou*s of Southwester I(ias ha(

a$rea(y "e%u to %row cor) The rise of a%ricu$ture a$$owe( these *eo*$e to form

*ermaet sett$emets)


4/9

4

THE C


5/9

5

%rou( a( co&ere( with furs a( aima$ s#is) The Iuit "ui$t s$e(s for tras*ortatio

a( s*rea( out across the coast) These *eo*$e were or%ai6e( i a $ar%e um"er of

sma$$ "a(s' which share( certai commo cu$tura$ *atters whi$e remaii% $ar%e$y

autoomous)

A$o% the Northwest Pacific Coast//a area of (ese forests' teemi% with cari"ou' (eer'

e$# a( moose' a( ri&ers' rich with sea $ife// the acestors of the Hai(as' Bwa#iut$s'a( T$i%its (e&e$o*e( a (isticti&e cu$ture oriete( towar( the water) The mi$( c$imate

a( the a"u(at marie $ife //sa$mo' stur%eo' ha$i"ut' herri%' she$$fish' a( sea

mamma$s//meat that these *eo*$es cou$( *ro(uce foo( with &ery $itt$e wor#) Such

a"u(ace free( these *eo*$e to create some of the wor$(4s most im*ressi&e art forms

as we$$ as a e$a"orate ceremoia$ $ife) The *eo*$e of the Northwest Pacific Coast

costructe( $ar%e' %a"$e(/roof *$a# houses+ car&e( fami$y a( c$a em"$ems o totem

*o$es+ ma(e e$a"orate$y car&e( woo(e mas#s' %ra&e mar#ers' a( utesi$s+ a(

costructe( %reat sea/%oi% caoes' some more tha 93 feet $o%) The re%io4s

a"u(at resources a$so *ro(uce( a hi%h$y stratifie( society' where a few wea$thy

fami$ies cotro$$e( each &i$$a%e) I(i&i(ua$s aouce( their hi%h socia$ status at a feast

ca$$e( a *ot$atch) Duri% this ritua$' which cou$( $ast for se&era$ (ays' a host

(emostrate( his wea$th "y (istri"uti% foo( a( %ifts to his %uests)

It was i the ari( Southwest that some of the ear$iest farmi% societies (e&e$o*e() The

*re(ecessors of the Pue"$o a( Na&ao I(ias were a"$e to f$ourish i a (esert

e&iromet "y (e&e$o*i% com*$e! irri%atio systems for farmi% a( "y (e&e$o*i%

structures suita"$e for &ast tem*erature cha%es)

Shifts i c$imate a**ear to ha&e *$aye( a im*ortat ro$e i ecoura%i% the

(e&e$o*met of a%ricu$ture i the Southwest) ,etwee three a( fi&e thousa( years

a%o' the amout of raifa$$ i this re%io icrease(' ecoura%i% may *eo*$e to

mi%rate to the area' ic$u(i% some from Me!ico a$rea(y fami$iar with raisi% cor'

squash' a( "eas) These *eo*$e raise( cro*s casua$$y' su**$emeti% a (iet that

(e*e(e( $ar%e$y o huti% a( fora%i%) Arou( '333 years a%o' howe&er' the

c$imate %rew (rier' #i$$i% off may of the re%io4s wi$( %ame a( &e%etatio) A %rou*

of *eo*$e #ow as the Mo%o$$o' who $i&e( i *ermaet &i$$a%es a$o% the ri&ers of

easter Ari6oa a( wester New Me!ico' res*o(e( to this cha%e "y (e&oti%

icrease( eer%y to farmi%' raisi% "eas' squash' a( cor) The &ersati$ity of the

Mo%o$$o is a$so a**aret i the housi% they costructe() To co*e with the (esert

e!tremes of heat a( co$(' they "ui$t *it houses//structures "urrowe( two or three feet

ito the %rou( a( co&ere( with wo&e ree(s a( *$aster ma(e out of mu()

I cetra$ Ari6oa' the Hoho#am' a %rou* that ha( mi%rate( from Me!ico' costructe(

e$a"orate irri%atio systems i or(er to trasform the (esert ito farm $a() They (u%

we$$s' "ui$t *o(s a( (ams to co$$ect raiwater' a( create( hu(re(s of mi$es of

caa$s a( (itches to chae$ water to their cro*s) The Hoho#am com"ie( farmi%

with tra(e' which i&o$&e( $u!ury %oo(s such as *recious stoes' orameta$ sea she$$s'

a( co**er "e$$s)

The acestra$ Pue"$oas a$so use( (ams a( irri%atio caa$s to water their cro*s)

,etwee 2333 a( 233 A)D)' the acestra$ Pue"$oas cu$ture s*rea( across much of

orther Ari6oa' orther New Me!ico' souther Co$ora(o' a( souther tah'

esta"$ishi% more tha 8;'333 se*arate commuities s*rea( o&er 93'333 square mi$es

coecte( "y a remar#a"$e system of roa(s) The acestra$ Pue"$oas are "est #ow

to(ay for their ma%ificet c$iff (we$$i%s//mu$ti/roome( (we$$i%s "ui$t ato* mesas or

a$o% stee* c$iffs) ,y 233' howe&er' the acestra$ Pue"$oas a"a(oe( these c$iff


6/9


7/9

7

i the ceter of their cities' where chiefs $i&e( a( the "oes of (ecease( chiefs were

#e*t)

The $ar%est of the Mississi**ia sett$emets may ha&e "ecome city/states' e!ercisi%

cotro$ o&er surrou(i% farm coutry) 1ithi their tows' the Mississi**ias create(

a com*$e!' stratifie( society' with a (istict $ea(ershi* c$ass' s*ecia$i6e( artisas' a

e!tesi&e system of tra(e' a( *riests) The Mississi**ias *ractice( a re$i%io #owas the Souther Ceremoia$ Com*$e!) Somewhat simi$ar to Me!ica I(ia re$i%ios'

the 5Souther cu$t'5 as it is #ow' *ro&i(e( a set of sym"o$s a( motifs of ra# a(

status that recur i Mississi**ia art' ota"$y a f$yi% huma fi%ure with wi%$i#e tatoos

arou( the eyes)

The Mississi**ia cu$tures %rew uti$ the 2;33s' whe (iseases itro(uce( "y Euro*ea

e!*$orers resu$te( i a shar* (ec$ie i *o*u$atio) Howe&er' oe %rou* of

Mississi**ias' the Natche6' sur&i&e( ito the 2=33s' $o% eou%h to "e (escri"e( "y

Euro*eas)

NATIEAMERICA ON THE EE O. CONTACT

1he Co$um"us arri&e( to the Cari""ea i 2F78' the New 1or$( was far from a

em*ty wi$(eress) It was home to as may *eo*$e as $i&e( i Euro*e//*erha*s 93 or =3

mi$$io) ,etwee se&e a( twe$&e mi$$io $i&e( i what are ow the ite( States a(

Caa(a) They were ot a si%$e' homo%eeous *o*u$atio) The *eo*$e orth of Me!ico

$i&e( i more tha ;3 (istict %rou*s' s*o#e more tha 8;3 (ifferet $a%ua%es a(

ha( their ow *o$itica$ structure' #ishi* systems' a( ecoomies) These (i&isios

wou$( ha&e fatefu$ cosequeces for the future' *ermitti% the Euro*ea co$oi6ers to

a(o*t (i&i(e/a(/coquer *o$icies that *$aye( oe %rou* off a%aist others)

I each %eo%ra*hica$ a( cu$tura$ area were (ee*$y roote( historic cof$icts a(

&u$era"i$ities that Euro*ea co$oi6ers wou$( e!*$oit) I the Southwest' may cof$icts

arose o&er cotro$ of the ari( re%io4s scarce resources' as %rou*s $i#e Yaquis a( the

Pimas stru%%$e( o&er access to water a( ferti$e $a() I the orther *ortio of the

Southwest' &i$$a%e (we$$ers' such as the Ho*i a( ui' coe!iste( ueasi$y with

mi%ratory huters a( rai(ers $i#e the A*ache) I the souther Southwest' *atters of

$a( use wou$( ma#e the iha"itats es*ecia$$y &u$era"$e to S*aish ecroachmet)

The (omiat %rou*s' the Pimas a( the Pa*a%os $i&e( i iso$ate( commuities' #ow

as racherias' s*rea( across a thousa( mi$es a$o% streams a( other sources of

irri%atio) The S*aiar(s wou$( a(o*t a *o$icy that sou%ht to 5re(uce5 the (is*erse(

I(ia *o*u$atio ito su*er&ise( tows)

I the Southeast//where the Cree#s' the Choctaws' the Chero#ees' the Semio$es a(

other *eo*$es $i&e(//e!tesi&e Euro*ea co$oi6atio was (e$aye( uti$ the 2=th cetury

"ecause the area $ac#e( *recious miera$s) Here' Mississi**ia cu$tura$ *atters

*ersiste(0 tows' with se&era$ hu(re( to a few thousa( resi(ets+ farmi%' fishi%a( huti%+ &aryi% (e%rees of socia$ stratificatio+ a( a *roouce( te(ecy towar(

matri$iea$ity ?traci% (escet throu%h the mother4s fami$y@ a( matri$oca$ity ?ew$y

marrie( cou*$es resi(i% with a( wor#i% for the mother4s fami$y@) .orms of *o$itica$

or%ai6atio ra%e( from autoomous tows to sets of &i$$a%es that *ai( tri"ute to a

(omiat tow) A history of itertri"a$ warfare i the Southeast $e( may tri"es to "a(

to%ether for *rotectio i cofe(eratios)


8/9

8

Stretchi% from the At$atic coast west to the Great


9/9

9

the Southwest' mem"ershi* i the %rou* was (etermie( "y the mother4s fami$y

i(etity) I the A$%oquia/s*ea#i% tri"es of easter North America' %rou*

mem"ershi* was "ase( o ties amo% si"$i%s a( cousis)

May I(ia *eo*$es *$ace( $ess em*hasis o the uc$ear fami$y//the uit cosisti% of

hus"a(' wife' a( their chi$(re//tha u*o the e!te(e( fami$y or the $iea%e) O the

Northwest Pacific Coast' the househo$( cosiste( of a ma' his wife or wi&es' a( theirchi$(re or the ma4s sister4s sos) Amo% the wester Pue"$o' the uc$eus of socia$ a(

ecoomic or%ai6atio was the e!te(e( househo$( cosisti% of a %rou* of fema$e

re$atios a( their hus"a(s' sos/i/$aw' a( matera$ %ra(chi$(re) Amo% the

Iroquoia s*ea#ers of the Easter 1oo($a(s' the "asic socia$ uit was the $o%house'

a $ar%e recta%u$ar structure that cotaie( a"out te fami$ies) Oe si% of the re$ati&e

uim*ortace of the uc$ear fami$y as o**ose( to $ar%er #ishi* ties is that may I(ia

societies *ro&i(e( for re$ati&e$y easy access to (i&orce)

A*art from a commo em*hasis o #ishi*' Nati&e America societies a$so share(

certai re$i%ious "e$iefs a( *ractices) May Euro*ea co$oists re%ar(e( I(ia

re$i%ios as a form of su*erstitio) Oe Catho$ic *riest' .ather .racois (u Perro'

(escri"e( Iroquoia "e$iefs i &ery e%ati&e' "ut ot uusua$' terms0 5A$$ their actios

are (ictate( to them (irect$y "y the (e&i$)))They cosi(er the (ream as the master oftheir $i&es+ it is the Go( of the coutry)5

.ar from "ei% 5*rimiti&e5 forms of re$i%io' I(ia re$i%ios *ossesse( %reat su"t$ety

a( so*histicatio' maifest i a rich ceremoia$ $ife' a itricate mytho$o%y' a(

*rofou( s*ecu$atios a"out the creatio of the wor$(' the ori%is of $ife' a( the ature

of the after$ife) $i#e Is$am' Christiaity' or :u(aism' Nati&e America re$i%ios were

ot 5writte5 re$i%ios with s*ecific fou(ers+ a$so' they mi%ht "e terme( mystica$

re$i%ios' sice they a$$owe( *eo*$e to ha&e (irect cotact with the su*eratura$

throu%h 5&isios5 a( 5(reams)

Des*ite rich &ariatios i ritua$ *ractices a( customs' Nati&e America re$i%ios

share( certai commo characteristics' ota"$y a out$oo# that mi%ht "e (escri"e( as

5aimistic)5 This is a "e$ief that there is a c$ose "o(s "etwee *eo*$e' aima$s' a( theatura$ e&iromet' a( that a$$ must $i&e to%ether i harmoy)

Scho$ars ha&e i(etifie( two (omiat forms of Nati&e America re$i%ious e!*ressio0

huti% a( horticu$tura$ re$i%ios) The huti% tra(itio was (isti%uishe( "y its

em*hasis o the huma re$atioshi* with aima$s' esta"$ishi% s*ecia$ ritua$s a(ta"oos surrou(i% the treatmet of wi$( aima$s so as ot to offe( their s*iritua$

masters) Huti% societies ofte ha( a shama ?or me(icie ma or woma@' a"$e to

cotact su*eratura$ "ei%s o "eha$f of the commuity)

The a%raria tra(itio em*hasi6e( ferti$ity' ce$e"rate( i a year$y rou( of s*ecia$

ceremoies (esi%e( to ecoura%e raifa$$ a( cro* *ro(ucti&ity) I cotrast to the

huti% tra(itio' which te(e( to em*hasi6e a si%$e ma$e (eity' the a%raria tra(itio

ha( a $ar%er um"er of %o(s a( %o((esses) A$so' u$i#e the $ess com*$e!$y or%ai6e(huti% societies' a%ricu$ture societies te(e( to ha&e a or%ai6e( *riesthoo( a(

*ermaet tem*$es or shries)

First Americans - Un Viaje Helado

Documents

Transcript of First Americans - Un Viaje Helado