oa Bear-human interactions: Archaeological and ethnographic investigations in North American indigenous cultures

Preview this chapter:

Bear-human interactions: Archaeological and ethnographic investigations in North American indigenous cultures, Page 1 of 1

< Previous page | Next page > /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1484/M.TANE-EB.5.133678/M.TANE-EB.5.134385-1.gif

Bears have held a special position in Native American societies for millennia. Archaeological and ethnographic data illuminate deep ideological connections to bears from at least 8000 BC. This study investigates early indigenous groups of North America such as the Adena, Hopewell, and Mississippian cultures (c. 800 BC - AD 1600) to assess the roles of bears in myth, ritual, and as markers of clan identity. Post-Conquest ethnographic sources offer a wealth of data showing the status of bears. In this study, bear paraphernalia such as claws, teeth, paws, bear skins, and bear headdresses are examined in various ritual contexts such as healing, dance, and shamanism. The ceremonialism associated with bear hunts, especially those involving bear costuming and tobacco rites, are also discussed as a means of understanding the complex mythological relationship between bears and humans.