The nomadic tribes on the other hand could not afford to have constant drains on the tribal resources. As to the sun dance it wasn't a disregard for pain but a social custom that would identify the strongest and bravest for reproduction. You had the scars you got the girl. Or girls as the case may be.
For the old warriors there was the custom known as "Staking" where they would tie an old warrior to a stake with a lead for his last battle. His positions were then divided and his widow(s) left to die unless one of her daughters took pity on her and could talk her husband into giving her a place in her tent. Or if they were young enough to be taken in by other men in the tribe as second wives.
I don’t have any kids but I have helped a few into this world and help raise them under the most primitive of conditions. Give me the 21-century to raise kids any day. It may not be perfect and what is? But it beats the devil out of raising them in primitive conditions where they die from diarrhea or from stepping on a piece of sharp stone.
Sort of the reason that men may invent but it is the families that are the motivation for the inventions.
a.cricket
I can't help but admire that. To go out like that, in battle...foolish youth, perhaps. I seem to recall something about the Lakota (?) war parties having a custom that the Ten Bravest (Ten Dogs?) would stake their black sashes into the ground with a ceremonial arrow at the start of battle and would sooner die than remove them, only being able to retreat if a comrade unstaked them as they retreated.
That's something we lose of necessity in our kind of society...it's certainly safer, but just as the lowest elements of such a soul are raised, the highest are lowered. Seems like a raw deal, but I guess I just want to have my cake and eat it too.
I have helped a few into this world and help raise them under the most primitive of conditions
Really? Peace Corps?