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Will's avatar

I think i remember reading there was some scalping by white men in retaliation for Indian raids in Texas at some points, that seems like another interesting example.

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J. M. Elliott's avatar

great info, thanks! the description of how Crow warriors used scalps to enhance prestige is remarkably similar to the way Herodotus described the use of scalps by Scythian warriors—also an equestrian plains people. you draw a distinction between negative reciprocity and prestige as a motivation for the taking and treatment of scalps. is there something inherently different about plains equestrian culture that prefers one over the other?

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