Discovering Ancient North America II
Discovering Ancient North America II
Lecture 2:
North American Archaeology
UCSC
Winter 2007
Lecture 2:
North American Archaeology
UCSC
Winter 2007
Early Exploration and ContactEarly Exploration and Contact
For thousands of years peoples of the two hemispheres developed in virtual isolation of each other.
How did earliest contact and early images and imaginings by Europeans about the
Native Americans impact the development of NA Archaeology?
For thousands of years peoples of the two hemispheres developed in virtual isolation of each other.
How did earliest contact and early images and imaginings by Europeans about the
Native Americans impact the development of NA Archaeology?
The Norse Viking ExpansionThe Norse Viking Expansion
Norse in GreenlandNorse in Greenland Eirik (the Red) Thordvalson AD 986 Settlements along SW tip of
Greenland
Eirik (the Red) Thordvalson AD 986 Settlements along SW tip of
Greenland
Brattahlid, Greenland Eirik the Red’s Farmstead
Norse in North AmericaNorse in North America Leif Eiriksson--
reached shores of NA--ca. A.D. 1000
Oral Tradition--Norse Sagas
Archaeology--L’Anse aux Meadows, New Foundland Sod walled houses,
Norse artifacts
Leif Eiriksson--reached shores of NA--ca. A.D. 1000
Oral Tradition--Norse Sagas
Archaeology--L’Anse aux Meadows, New Foundland Sod walled houses,
Norse artifacts
“Skraelings”“Skraelings”
16th century image of Inuit from Forbisher expedition to Canada
16th century image of Inuit from Forbisher expedition to Canada
First European description of Native Americans
Norse artifacts found on Inuit sites in W. Greenland, Canadian Archipelago, High Arctic
Norse abandon Greenland ca.1500-- “Little Ice Age”
First European description of Native Americans
Norse artifacts found on Inuit sites in W. Greenland, Canadian Archipelago, High Arctic
Norse abandon Greenland ca.1500-- “Little Ice Age”
Basque Whaling StationsBasque Whaling Stations
Reconstruction of Basque whaling station in Labrador
Reconstruction of Basque whaling station in Labrador
Red Bay, Labrador--evidence of 16th century Basque whaling station
Saddle Island--whaler’s cemetery with 60 graves and 140 skeletons
Under water archaeology -- sunken galleon and smaller whaling boats
Started as early as 14th c.?
Red Bay, Labrador--evidence of 16th century Basque whaling station
Saddle Island--whaler’s cemetery with 60 graves and 140 skeletons
Under water archaeology -- sunken galleon and smaller whaling boats
Started as early as 14th c.?
Columbian ConsequencesColumbian Consequences
1492--beginning of major European colonial expansion
Fundamentally changed European World View
Native Americans suffered cultural and biological genocide, political domination and economic dependency
1492--beginning of major European colonial expansion
Fundamentally changed European World View
Native Americans suffered cultural and biological genocide, political domination and economic dependency
Christopher Columbus, 1519
Early Speculation on Identity and Origins of Native Americans
Early Speculation on Identity and Origins of Native Americans
Papal Bull (1567)--NA are human and have souls
Joannes Fredricus Lumnius (1567)-- “Lost Tribes of Israel”
Jose de Acosta (1589)--overland migration from Asia
Papal Bull (1567)--NA are human and have souls
Joannes Fredricus Lumnius (1567)-- “Lost Tribes of Israel”
Jose de Acosta (1589)--overland migration from Asia
16th century images of Indians by John White
The Myth of the MoundbuildersThe Myth of the Moundbuilders
Earthworks in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys attributed to “Lost Earthworks in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys attributed to “Lost Race of Moundbuilders” of probable European originRace of Moundbuilders” of probable European origin
Why a Lost Race of Why a Lost Race of Moundbuilders?Moundbuilders?
Why a Lost Race of Why a Lost Race of Moundbuilders?Moundbuilders?
Indians no longer building mounds
Emerging Nationalism Racist Attitudes Economic and Political
Motives
Indians no longer building mounds
Emerging Nationalism Racist Attitudes Economic and Political
Motives
Moundbuilders and ArchaeologyMoundbuilders and Archaeology
Thomas Jefferson (1797) Notes on Virginia
Squier and Davis (1848) Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi
Cyrus Thomas (1894) 12th Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnography
Thomas Jefferson (1797) Notes on Virginia
Squier and Davis (1848) Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi
Cyrus Thomas (1894) 12th Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnography
Search for First AmericansSearch for First Americans
Enthusiasts search for “Ice Age” humans in America (1880s-1890s)
W.H. Holmes and A. Hrdlicka debunked claims; favored “short chronology”
Enthusiasts search for “Ice Age” humans in America (1880s-1890s)
W.H. Holmes and A. Hrdlicka debunked claims; favored “short chronology”
Alex Hrdlicka of the Smithsonian Institution
Folsom Find (1926-27)Folsom Find (1926-27) George McJunkin (1908) J.D. Figgins (Denver
MNH) (1926) Projectile points (in situ)
with extinct Bison bones (Bison bison antiquus)
Proved conclusively that Native Americans had been in Americas since end of Ice Age (ca. 10,000 BP)
George McJunkin (1908) J.D. Figgins (Denver
MNH) (1926) Projectile points (in situ)
with extinct Bison bones (Bison bison antiquus)
Proved conclusively that Native Americans had been in Americas since end of Ice Age (ca. 10,000 BP)
Reconstruction of Folsom Find