Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 December 2021
“Peopling researchers study the physical detritus of First
Peoples, who moved around a lot and created a record profoundly ravaged by the
forces of time. Based on even the most rudimentary understanding of mobile
populations and taphonomy, this means we are unlikely to encounter remnants of
a built environment (because highly mobile people usually do not expend energy
erecting permanent structures) and destined to encounter only the most
resistant stone and bone objects (because they are what preserves).
If the earliest material record consists so
disproportionately of stone tools, dense megafauna bones, and the occasional
ephemeral fire feature, would we not be downright irresponsible to try to
access human motivations beyond the subsistence and land-use activities that
these archaeological signatures most obviously represent? If First Peoples did
not leave behind monuments or other more “obvious” windows to their thoughts
and values, who are we to overreach the record? Again, are the sorts of
questions posed by those with postprocessual leanings not beyond the scope of
what we can responsibly address?”
Gotta say the first paragraph is downright offensively wrong. The second paragraph is as close to incoherent as anything I have ever read. But in the end, both paragraphs are trying to deprecate the potential to study ceremonialism of the past. Baloney!
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for anyone who has to wade through that sort of pretentious writing.
The reason this is complete nonsense, is that the New England Indians were migratory. Look what they created!
ReplyDeletePeople in this corner of Turtle Island, even after 1620, continued to "follow a seasonal round" even after maize was introduced - some call it a "non-event" even. Stone Fish Weirs quickly falsify the statement that "highly mobile people usually do not expend energy erecting permanent structures."
ReplyDeleteHaving some fun with this. The authors appear unaware that the major monuments from US Prehistory were made ENTIRELY by nomadic people. Poverty Point in Louisiana. Not sure about Cahokia.
ReplyDeleteThe authors also appear to be ignorant of Gobekli Tepi - the very early "Stonehenge" from Turkey, built by pre-agricultural people.
Gotta wonder: where were the editors?