Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: 2banana

I agree with the basic thrust of your post, but just have a few questions.

By Anazasi, do you mean the Chaco Great House builders, people on the Colorado Plateau after Chaco living in Mesa Verde and that region, or later Rio Grande pueblos just before Coronado? It's a bit of a pulp journalism term (from the Navajo no less) that kind of glosses over the differences between these time periods. Maybe I'm being too academic considering my background. People like to say the Anazasi disappeared, but really they probably just moved, changed their settlement patterns (no more great houses), and became more insular. Probably as a result of internecine warfare coupled with local environmental degradation and climate fluctuations.

King Philip's War was brutal, as was the earlier Pequot War that preceded it. In both cases, different Indian tribes sided with either the Indians or the Colonists. I've worked on sites for both these early clashes between colonists and Indians. Some very interesting uses of european trade goods and modification to suit the Indians sense of what was important.

The French and Indian War was against mostly the French and their Huron allies. For the most part the Iroquis tribes were on the side of the Brits/Colonists, mostly because they were fighting their old enemies (the Huron). I don't know as much about this or later conflicts though, so I can't really say which side committed more atrocities. I would guess they are about equal.

>>cannibalism (Navajo, Anasazi).

I've seen and studied some of these remains. Some pretty grisly stuff though they all pre-date the Navajo from what I understand.


31 posted on 03/02/2005 11:31:38 AM PST by Betis70 (I'm only Left Wing when I play hockey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies ]


To: Betis70
I tend to be drawn to the theory that the cannibalism seen in "Anastazi" sites was an act of political terror by Mexican origin overlords - probably the pre-Columbian Aztecs. A way to keep a people that occupied a vital trade route in line without the need to garrison a large occupation force - the Aztecs would raid these people every year - extract tribute in the form of goods and human sacrifices, carry out acts of terror like cannabalisim of the tribe's important people and leave.
34 posted on 03/02/2005 11:55:43 AM PST by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting johnathangaltfilms.com and jihadwatch.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson