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.
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?
“[T]he introduction of horses into parts of North America seemed to facilitate the spread and elaboration of scalping traditions across large parts of the continent.” Interesting. Perhaps the folks who brought the horses had an effect as well?
In the initiation homicide cases, I wonder if it serves (served?) as a sort of boogeyman for young men: “don’t be such an a-hole that the other tribe’s young men pick you!”
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.
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?
“[T]he introduction of horses into parts of North America seemed to facilitate the spread and elaboration of scalping traditions across large parts of the continent.” Interesting. Perhaps the folks who brought the horses had an effect as well?
In the initiation homicide cases, I wonder if it serves (served?) as a sort of boogeyman for young men: “don’t be such an a-hole that the other tribe’s young men pick you!”