An Inquiry into the Nature of Plains Indian Cultural Development

• Published in: American anthropologist 1963-04, Vol.65 (2), p.355-369
• Main Author: Wilson, H Clyde
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Buffalo hunting; Culture/Cultural, change; Culture/Cultures/Cultural/ Culturally; Development/Developments; Equestrianism; Horses; Hunter gatherers; Indian culture; Nomadic peoples; Pastoral nomads; Pastoralism; Plains; Society, The, of; Technology
• ISSN: 0002-7294; 1548-1433
• DOI: 10.1525/aa.1963.65.2.02a00100

Exception is taken to the classic hypothesis that historic Plains Indian culture was altered as a result of employment of the newly introduced horse (H) as a more efficient hunting tool. L. White's law of cultural development & technological efficiency is applied to a discussion of whether the H was merely an improved hunting implement or was a new source of energy. Consideration of the H as a tool fails to take into account the magnitude of change which occurred. Therefore, the H is regarded as a new energy source, & the post-H cultural system is compared to systems based upon non-hunting technologies. Plains tribes are considered to be nomadic pastoralists. Nomadic pastoralism is defined as a system dependent on large domestic animals with an exploitive technique requiring transhumance. 3 subtypes based upon how the animal is used are presented: (1) for production of material products, (2) for mechanical power, (3) for both material products & mechanical power. The Plains Indians were dependent upon the mechanical power of their large herds of H's, which were needed to exploit the buffalo. The specific character of Plains culture was delineated by the fact of ownership & use of H's rather than by buffalo hunting. The reclassification of Plains culture as nomadic pastoralism serves to explain the character of total/sum Plains culture for comparative purposes. R. C. Witz.