Description
Explore the rich tapestry of Native American culture with 'Fossil Legends of the First Americans'. This captivating trade paperback, published by Princeton University Press in 2023, delves into the fascinating intersection of archaeology and folklore where ancient fossils meet indigenous wisdom. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Montana's Hell Creek, a fossil-rich landscape where the remains of Cretaceous dinosaurs have intrigued scholars and native tribes alike, this meticulously researched book sheds light on the legends and beliefs surrounding prehistoric bones. Discover how the Sioux, Crows, Blackfeet, and other tribes interpreted these stone skeletons, sparking curiosity and creative storytelling. Native Americans viewed these fossilized remains as more than mere remnants of the past; they transformed them into rich narratives of Monster Bears, Giant Lizards, and Thunder Birds within their oral traditions. The books also reveal the functional uses of these fossils in medicine and hunting magic. Through a synthesis of personal interviews, historical sources, and cultural accounts, author Adrienne Mayor captures the essence of indigenous perspectives, offering insights that resonate with modern scientific theories. Perfect for enthusiasts of anthropology, history, and indigenous tales, this beautifully illustrated work invites readers to traverse a world where ancient bones and vibrant stories coexist, enhancing our understanding of human interactions with prehistoric artifacts. Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled. Condition: BRAND NEW. ISBN: 9780691245614.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691245614
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
The burnt-red badlands of Montana's Hell Creek are a vast graveyard of the Cretaceous dinosaurs that lived 68 million years ago. Those hills were, much later, also home to the Sioux, the Crows, and the Blackfeet, the first people to encounter the dinosaur fossils exposed by the elements. What did Native Americans make of these stone skeletons, and how did they explain the teeth and claws of gargantuan animals no one had seen alive? Did they speculate about their deaths? Did they collect fossils?
Beginning in the East, with its Ice Age monsters, and ending in the West, where dinosaurs lived and died, this richly illustrated and elegantly written book examines the discoveries of enormous bones and uses of fossils for medicine, hunting magic, and spells. Well before Columbus, Native Americans observed the mysterious petrified remains of extinct creatures and sought to understand their transformation to stone. In perceptive creation stories, they visualised the remains of extinct mammoths, dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and marine creatures as Monster Bears, Giant Lizards, Thunder Birds, and Water Monsters. Their insights, some so sophisticated that they anticipate modern scientific theories, were passed down in oral histories over many centuries.
Drawing on historical sources, archaeology, traditional accounts, and extensive personal interviews, Adrienne Mayor takes us from Aztec and Inca fossil tales to the traditions of the Iroquois, Navajos, Apaches, Cheyennes, and Pawnees. Fossil Legends of the First Americans represents a major step forward in our understanding of how humans made sense of fossils before evolutionary theo
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691245614
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
The burnt-red badlands of Montana's Hell Creek are a vast graveyard of the Cretaceous dinosaurs that lived 68 million years ago. Those hills were, much later, also home to the Sioux, the Crows, and the Blackfeet, the first people to encounter the dinosaur fossils exposed by the elements. What did Native Americans make of these stone skeletons, and how did they explain the teeth and claws of gargantuan animals no one had seen alive? Did they speculate about their deaths? Did they collect fossils?
Beginning in the East, with its Ice Age monsters, and ending in the West, where dinosaurs lived and died, this richly illustrated and elegantly written book examines the discoveries of enormous bones and uses of fossils for medicine, hunting magic, and spells. Well before Columbus, Native Americans observed the mysterious petrified remains of extinct creatures and sought to understand their transformation to stone. In perceptive creation stories, they visualised the remains of extinct mammoths, dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and marine creatures as Monster Bears, Giant Lizards, Thunder Birds, and Water Monsters. Their insights, some so sophisticated that they anticipate modern scientific theories, were passed down in oral histories over many centuries.
Drawing on historical sources, archaeology, traditional accounts, and extensive personal interviews, Adrienne Mayor takes us from Aztec and Inca fossil tales to the traditions of the Iroquois, Navajos, Apaches, Cheyennes, and Pawnees. Fossil Legends of the First Americans represents a major step forward in our understanding of how humans made sense of fossils before evolutionary theo