Description
In a book that spans the Iroquoian culture from its ancient roots to its survival in the modern world, William Engelbrecht maintains that two themes pervade this development: warfare and spirituality. An investigation of oral tradition, archaeology, and historical records provides new insight into this now largely vanished world known as Iroquoia.
Engelbrecht covers a wide geographic range, exploring regional and temporal differences in material culture and subsistence patterns. He finds change over time in the distribution and size of communities and in response to environmental demographic, and social factors. In addition, he furthers the controversial debate that "arrow sacrifice" and other beliefs spread from Mesoamerica with the dispersal of maize and horticulture. Although scholars have suggested that palisaded hilltop Iroquoian villages were constructed with an eye for defense, this book is unique in showing that the longhouse--known mainly as a community forum and spiritual place--may also have served as a defense structure. Throughout this work, which will become the newstandard text to which scholars will refer, Engelbrecht reminds us that the the study of the Iroquoian people continues to enrich and inform the modern world.
Author: William Engelbrecht
Publisher: Syracuse University Press
Published: 09/23/2005
Pages: 232
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.01lbs
Size: 10.12h x 7.10w x 0.59d
ISBN13: 9780815630609
ISBN10: 0815630603
BISAC Categories:
- Social Science | Archaeology
- Social Science | Ethnic Studies | American | Native American Studies
- History | United States | State & Local | General
About the Author
William Engelbrecht is professor emeritus of anthropology at Buffalo State College. His articles have appeared in many journals, including American Antiquity, North American Archaeologist, Northeast Anthropology, and Bulletin: Journal of the New York State Archaeological Association.