Recent Distortions of Ethnohistorical and Archaeological Data for the Arikaras and General Plains

Orser's (1983) paper on Arikara mortuary procedures, in which he has used unsound ethnohistorical research to buttress shaky archaeological conclusions, betrays a general misunderstanding of ethnohistorical data. This article, which concerns itself with the interrelationships of archaeological and ethnohistorical data, reexamines Orser's analysis of Mackay's notes on Indians: 1) suggests that these notes (which Orser could only bracket to 1799–1822) were written by 1804; 2) shows that there is no reason to accept any of Orser's references pertaining to Arikara scaffold burial; 3) outlines why Orser's “ethnohistorical” research is unsound; and 4) shows how this unsound ethnohistory hampers the advance of knowledge of the Plains. In short, this article serves to caution scholars not well versed in Arikara and Plains data about the shortcomings of Orser's studies

Archaeology · Ethnohistory · Sociology · Anthropology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Historical and Cultural Archaeology Studies · History

• Real or Imagined Confusion in Ethnohistorical Research? A Rejoinder to Thurman

  Open Access•C E Orser•North American Archaeologist•1988

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  C E Orser, James Mackay•Ethnohistory•1983

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  Grace Lee Nute, Annie H Abel et al.•The Mississippi Valley Historical…•1939

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  John L Loos, Donald Jackson•The Mississippi Valley Historical…•1962

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• Plains Indian Winter Counts and the New Ethnohistory

  Melburn D Thurman•Plains Anthropologist•1982

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• Complexity in Arikara Mortuary Practice

  D H Ubelaker, P Willey•Plains Anthropologist•1978

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  Frank H Stewart, Frank Stewart•Plains Anthropologist•1974

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• Covering The Dead” And Arikara Mortuary Practices

  Melburn D Thurman•Plains Anthropologist•1984

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