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Alexander Von Humboldt and Nineteenth-Century Ideas on the Origin of American Indians

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Alexander Von Humboldt and Nineteenth-Century Ideas on the Origin of American Indians Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2000 Alexander von Humboldt and nineteenth-century ideas on the origin of American Indians Michael Anthony Wadyko West Virginia University Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Wadyko, Michael Anthony, "Alexander von Humboldt and nineteenth-century ideas on the origin of American Indians" (2000). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 1225. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1225 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT AND NINETEENTH-CENTURY IDEAS ON THE ORIGIN OF AMERICAN INDIANS Michael Anthony Wadyko Dissertation submitted to the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences At West Virginia University In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In History Gregory Good, PhD., Chair John C. Super, PhD. Stephen C. McCluskey, PhD. A. Michal McMahon, PhD. Helen M. Bannan, PhD. Department of History Morgantown, West Virginia 2000 Keywords: Indian origins, Alexander von Humboldt, origins debate, Bering Strait Theory Copyright 2000 Michael Wadyko ABSTRACT Alexander Von Humboldt and Nineteenth-Century Ideas On the Origin Of American Indians Michael Anthony Wadyko This dissertation revolves around Alexander von Humboldt’s research on Indian origins. Humboldt conducted investigations on Indians during his precedent-setting scientific expedition to Meso- and South America during the years 1799-1804. Officially sponsored by the Spanish crown, the main purposes for this expedition were twofold: to examine, evaluate, and discredit Buffon’s “degeneracy” claims about America and its inhabitants, and to gather empirical evidence on geography, climate, flora, fauna, and the indigenous cultures. From these results Humboldt published three major works about the expedition, particularly a thirty-volume work condensed to two volumes, Vues de Cordillerès et monuments des peuples d’ Amerique. From this work on Indian cultures and origins, this dissertation focuses on the Indian origin theory he created and the varied roles Humboldt played in the origins debate. Concomitant with these roles is Humboldt’s influence and authority with various types of empirical and speculative researchers who cited him. As the origins debate evolved towards mid-nineteenth century, Humboldt’s roles in the debate became more indirect. Humboldt turned to other sciences, while various researchers kept his influence alive in the debate into the 1830s and 1840s. After his death, knowledge of his work was eclipsed, and much of his contributions suffered neglect. One purpose of this dissertation is to revive this very important work. The dissertation analyzes his main work on Indian origins, plus works of other researchers from various fields who cited his works. These researchers often differed as much from one another as from Humboldt, and often used his citations to oppose his hypotheses and create their own. Included are investigators from the older speculative tradition who continued to work concomitantly along the newer empiricists from various disciplines. Those of the speculative tradition often cited Humboldt during the course of the debate during the first half of the nineteenth century. Included is the controversy that built up about the origins of a separate race of Mound builders apart from the American Indians. This controversy remained unresolved well into the late nineteenth century. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To those people friends, mentors, and associates who have knowingly or unknowingly enabled me to complete this personal venture to ascend the academic mountain. To: My Frau Judy, who endured academic work for almost a decade My loving sister and friend, Valerie who supported my endeavor My long term Freunden, Lawrence B. Kort, Joan, Teresa, and Elizabeth My telecourse co-ordinator at CMC, Herr David Kohls My newly minted friend, Reverend Bill Smith, Ph.D. My Chief of Nursing at Pittsburgh VAMC, Mrs. Ernestine Marsh My ICU Supervisor and Nurse Manager, Ms. Nancy Snyder My VAMC director in Colorado, Dr. Kurt Schlegelmilch, who provided the permission for an early retirement to complete my research My career-counselor and friend, Dr. Dennis Pad Abbot Dr. Martin and all at Mt. Saviour Monastery My mother, Mrs. Ann Dworak Wadyko the Neva Daniel family My dissertation committee membership headed by Dr. Gregory Good the Late Dr. John Maxwell, the Late Dr. Robert Colodny, Dr. Robert Maxon, and Dr. Elizabeth Fones-Wolf and Dr. Helen Bannan, who were not formally on my committee My students and friends who actively encouraged me: Ms. Karen Marsh Ms. Rose Marie Schlegelmilch-Bauman Ms. Janet Girardy Mrs. Thelma Dinge Ms. Laurel Little Amy and Fran Sirianni Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Boyd Mark Kavasch, Jeff Carlson, the Parrish family, choir and staff of Good Shepherd Lutheran Ms. Helen and Dr. Robert Ives, who assisted me with research efforts Dr. Joe and Mrs. Jurene Phaneuf Dr. and Mrs. Pentti Nupponen Herr Doktor Walter Fuchs, retired physicist, (and Frau Alice Fuchs) Dr. Jim Forrester from West Liberty State College Mrs. Carol Crum, RN Mrs. Sarah Oliver, MS, CNS Dr. Al Saliman, GMA Dr. Holly Phaneuf Mike and Robin Spencer the Late Dr. Richard Roberti Dr. Orisya Karapinka the Late Dr. Carl Beck Members of Ohr Shalom Congregation WVU Support Staff: Kathy Fletcher, John Hagen, Carol Hando, Nancy McGreevy, Karla Vaughan Herr John McCormick, Ms. Lynn Sabloff, Sean Vetter, OT, Ms. Lori Adams CONTENTS Introduction Page 1 Chapter One Alexander von Humboldt's Investigations on Indian Origins Page 14 Section 1 - Prelude to Theory Section 2 - Humboldt’s Methodology Section 3 - Bases of Humboldt’s Origin Theory in Views and Monuments Section 4 - Humboldt’s Emphasis on Archaeological Remains Section 5 - The Toltecs Section 6 - Humboldt’s Analyses of Astronomical-Astrological Calculations and Calendars Section 7 - Final Comments Chapter Two Ancient Texts and Myths as Historical Record: Atlanteans, Lost Tribes, and Other Ancient Traditions Page 48 Section 1 - Ancient Sources versus Existing Evidence Section 2 - Atlantean Origin Theory Section 3 - Biblical Origin Theories Section 4 - James Adair on Lost Tribes Section 5 - Joseph Smith and the Ten Lost Tribes as Scripture Section 6 - Variations on the Lost Tribes’ Theme iv Section 7 - Links with Other Ancient Peoples Section 8 - Combination Theories Section 9 - Welsh and Scandinavian Theories Section 10- Conclusion Chapter Three Philology Addresses Asian Origins Page 105 Section 1 - Introduction: Philologists First of the Empiricists Section 2 - Those Who Laid the Groundwork Section 3 - Benjamin Smith Barton Section 4 - Johann Vater Section 5 - Thomas Jefferson Section 6 - Albert Gallatin Section 7 - Lewis Cass Section 8 - Conclusion Chapter Four Gentlemen Scholars and Theorists Page 138 Section 1 - Basic Themes Section 2 - Physician-Climatologists Williamson and Murray Section 3 - Scholars Who Kept Humboldt’s Ideas in the Debate J.H. McCulloh and B.H.Coates Section 4 - Other Inconclusive Scholars C.S. Rafinesque Alexander Bradford Section 5 - Separate-Origin Theorists Section 6 - Summary and Conclusions v Chapter Five Mound Builders and the Origins Debate Page 168 Section 1 - Differentiation in Research Methods Section 2 - Organized Investigations Section 3 - McCulloh and Priest on Mound Builders Section 4 - The Phrenologists: Samuel Morton Section 5 - Advent of Sophisticated Archaeology: Squier and Davis Section 6 - Conclusion Conclusion Page 177 vi INTRODUCTION Basic Themes This dissertation involves Alexander von Humboldt’s attempts to resolve, by scientific methodology, elements of a dilemma introduced by Columbus’s landing in America. A dilemma for Europeans developed from their treatment of the native peoples. This posed questions about their origins, because that affected the treatment accorded them. If Europeans resolved this issue of origins to their satisfaction, then they were able to justify actions. Other reasons for interest in origins arose from scholarly, exploratory, religious, and curiosity reasons. As fierce competition among investigators and nations in Europe intensified, the number and type of speculations on origins grew. Errors in assessing origins increased, because investigators lacked sufficient evidence, knowledge, and methodology to about the subject. Absence of recorded histories and visible remains posed a significant obstacle in the assessment of origins. Many American Indian cultures featured rich oral traditions about migrations and heritage. Conquistadorés had plundered and destroyed archaeological remains and written records of the major Indian civilizations of Mexico and Peru, ignorant of the evidence that these may have contained about origins. Ecclesiastical destruction accompanied this pillage, as clerics viewed the
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