Crazy Horse Anthropology

When the Sioux migrated to the Great Plains area, they most certainly came across the the Badlands in their discovery. The name “Badlands” is derived from the Lakota phrase makȟóšiča, meaning Land of Bad Spirits.  Today, some Lakota believe that the Badlands are a place to be avoided because it is where bad spirits exist. This paper will discuss the geographic location,  geological formation, Lakota legends,  reasons the site is visited, time or seasons to visit and Lakota stargazing associated with the site. When applicable, Lakota words will be provided.

The expedition of Lewis and Clark was a landmarking event in American history, but its significance goes beyond just the land they discovered.The Lewis and Clark Expedition was put forward so the two would be able to see and map out western America in search of new trade routes and passages. Lewis and Clark would have doubtfully survived had it not been with the aid of the Indians they met on their travels. Upon their controversial meetings with several Indian groups, Lewis and Clark were not respectful to the Americans they met on their journey. The controversial messages behind the peace metals, the reference to the Indians as “children”, and the physical

There are many ways in which we can view the history of the American West. One view is the popular story of Cowboys and Indians. It is a grand story filled with adventure, excitement and gold. Another perspective is one of the Native Plains Indians and the rich histories that spanned thousands of years before white discovery and settlement. Elliot West’s book, Contested Plains: Indians, Goldseekers and the Rush to Colorado, offers a view into both of these worlds. West shows how the histories of both nations intertwine, relate and clash all while dealing with complex geological and environmental challenges. West argues that an understanding of the settling of the Great Plains must come from a deeper understanding, a more thorough

The long history between Native American and Europeans are a strained and bloody one. For the time of Columbus’s subsequent visits to the new world, native culture has

The Enlightened Archaeologist – an article authored by Jeffrey Hantman and Gary Dunham chronicles Thomas Jefferson’s investigation of the Indian burial mound located on the South Fork of the Rivanna River in the 18th century. The site excavated by Jefferson, however, is no longer visible, most likely due to dissipation by inevitable natural occurrences (I.E. excessive rainfall, flooding rivers, etc.) or human activity such as farming. The “Father of American Archaeology” correctly predicts the latter in his book, Notes on the State of Virginia, in which he states, mounds “…put under cultivation are much reduced in their height, and spread in width, by the plough, and will probably disappear in time” (1787). Fortunately for Archaeologists of the late 20th century (1988) an Indian burial mound identical to that of the one Jefferson described in his book was uncovered just 14 miles from the South Fork of the Rivanna River.

Throughout history, humans have depended on the horse. Horses have contributed to the growth of humankind as transportation, farm workers, and battle steeds. They have been trained to support humans in many ways. When did this relationship begin? At what point did the horse become a vital part of human society? Exploring the evolution of the horse can help to answer these questions.

Time Exposures: Picturing a History of Isleta Pueblo in the 19th Century exhibit was reflected everything that was covered in anthropology class, such as the influence of imperialism taking over Native American culture and society. “This exhibition, organized by the Pueblo of Isleta, tells the story of life on the Isleta Indian Reservation in the 19th century and its lasting effects on life today.” The Smithsonian press release explain that “In 1881, the railroad companies forcibly took land in the center of Isleta Pueblo in the Rio Grande Valley and the rail lines built there brought scores of tourists.” Overall, the Time Exposures portray the Isleta Pueblo Native American lives before the arrival of other visitors. Furthermore, the changes imposed on the Natives in the subsequent years, along with the ways in which the people of Isleta Pueblo attempted to preserve their way of life. “’Time Exposures’ is divided into three parts. In the first section, the cycle of the Isleta traditional year as it was observed in the mid-19th century is detailed. The second section describes the arrival of the Americans and the how this disrupted the Isleta way of living. In the third section, the exhibit examines the photos themselves as products of an outside culture. While exploring the underlying ideas and values of the photos, the exhibition questions their portrayal of Isleta people and ways.”

This quote demonstrates how the Native American’s decision to fight for their right for the Black Hills proves how their cultural identity has transformed throughout their history and how they continue to fight still today. In today’s society, the Black Hills are known more for Mount Rushmore than anything Native American related. The construction of Mount Rushmore agitated many members of the American Indian Movement (AIM). Stating that “Mount Rushmore was not the Shrine of Democracy; instead, it was the Hoax of Democracy” (Pg.168). This quote reveals how although many Americans in today’s society view Mount Rushmore as a symbol for America and Democracy that many Natives view it as disgrace to their culture and people. This is because the Natives continue to fight for their rightful claim to the Black Hills and will not stop until justice

The motive of the modern researches are that they think the skeletal remains should have been kept because they should stay safe. For decades the skeletal remains of humans from unmarked graves have been dug up for archaeological excavations. These remains have been collected by museums, universities, and government agencies. The majority of those remains being descendents of Native Americans. These museums, universities, government agencies, and physical anthropologists would pay for stolen remains and display them as a trophy of their studies, while the Native Americans motive was to get the remains back for tradition. They wanted their ancestors skeletal remains back so they could have a proper reburial. Their motives were related to their culture and religion, not just for their own greed like the

When you hear of an Advanced Ancient civilization in North America, you usually think of either Mayans, Aztecs, or sometimes the Olmec. But in this paper I won’t be talking about any of those civilizations, we’ll be talking about the Native Americans that lived in the Mississippi Valley, by the Mississippi River. That have their capital not 6 miles outside of St.Louis.

Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, who with William Clark led the expedition through the unchartered Louisiana Territory. The article “Lewis and Clark: Into the Unknown” tells the story of Lewis and Clark’s journey: how they survived the harsh weather and what they discovered. “Lewis and Clark: Revisited” tells how a modern group of adventures reenacted Lewis and Clark’s escapade. There were many similarities in the reenactors’ and Lewis and Clark’s trek. For example, both the Corps of Discovery and the reenactors encountered Native Americans, some friendly and helpful, others not as cooperative. Despite these similarities, there are multiple differences in the adventurers’ expeditions, such as the food they ate and the equipment they used. The reenactors used a boat with an attached motor, while Meriwether Lewis used a keelboat to explore. The ways that the Corps of Discovery explored can be compared and contrasted to the ways that the reenactors of the Discovery Expedition journeyed.

If you leave your car behind and join a ranger-led hike in Southwest Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park, you'll find yourself at a spot where the scrubby pinyon-juniper forest drops off. It falls into a sandstone chasm. It reveals a maze of 800-year-old stone dwellings. They are wedged beneath an overhang in the canyon wall. They're so well preserved that it's easy to imagine you've stepped back in time. And that nothing has changed in this high desert landscape since the Ancestral Puebloans built these chambers. They were built in the 12th century.

In this thesis, I discuss my research and fieldwork at Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park (KLGO) in southeast Alaska. The conducted research examines fragile archaeological sites in unstable landscapes and articulates climatic and environmental conditions associated to cultural resources. My research includes identifying unknown sites, protecting known sites in unstable landscapes, identifying environmental factors threatening to alter or destroy archaeological resources, and examining human – environmental relationships.

Nature is a part of the Native American culture; in fact, it is essential to the Native Americans. The landscape, scenery, plants, animals, climate, habitat, and the microorganisms that all make up the Native American’s culture demonstrates the true connection between nature and this culture. In contrasting points, two Native American writers reveals what is occurring on their land; Momaday portrays the Rainy Mountain as a new creation and a new life for living organisms, while Brown portrays the Plains as a decimated piece of land induced by the man made items that were created from humans. Both Momaday and Brown explains the scenery and weather in the way they see the land; even though the both lands may seem like they have similar attributes, this idea is actually quite the antithesis.

Overall, the voice and knowledge of descendant communities and the archaeological understanding of Serpent Mound will be easily accessed by all ages through in-person or virtual field trip. The products express Serpent Mound’s significance to the public and allows for more knowledge of the site and site protection. Increased preservation of the site allows future populations to visit and study the mound, and for the Eastern Shawnee people to continue to have cultural ties to the