Plains Indian Studies A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS IN HONOR OF JOHN C. EWERS AND WALDO R. WEDEL A^ -^ DOUGLAS H. UBELAKER and HERMAN J. VIOL " ''hm SMITHSONIAN CONTteUTIONS TO ANTHROPOLOGY JM*^>T^ SERIES PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Emphasis upon publication as a means of "diffusing knowledge" was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry outlined a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This theme of basic research has been adhered to through the years by thousands of titles issued in series publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Sm/thsonian Contr/butions to the Marine Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology Smithsonian Studies in Air and Space Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes small papers and full-scale monographs that report the research and collections of its various museums and bureaux or of professional colleagues in the world of science and scholarship. The publications are distributed by mailing lists to libraries, universities, and similar institutions throughout the world. Papers or monographs submitted for series publication are received by the Smithsonian Institution Press, subject to its own review for format and style, only through departments of the various Smithsonian museums or bureaux, where the manuscripts are given substantive review. Press requirements for manuscript and art preparation are outlined on the inside back cover. S. Dillon Ripley Secretary Smithsonian Institution SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ANTHROPOLOGY • NUMBER 30 Plains Indian Studies A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS IN HONOR OF JOHN C. EWERS AND WALDO R. WEDEL Douglas H. Ubelaker and Herman J. Viola EDITORS SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS City of Washington 1982 ABSTRACT Ubelaker, Douglas H., and Herman J. Viola, editors. Plains Indian Studies: A Collection of Essays in Honor of John C. Ewers and Waldo R. Wedel. Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology, number 30, 218 pages, 35 figures, 4 tables, 4 plates, 1982.—Much of our knowledge of the ethnology, material culture, and prehistory of the Plains of the United States can be linked with the careers and careful research of the Smithsonian's John C. Ewers and Waldo R. Wedel. Following their retirement, the Smithsonian chose to recognize their outstanding contributions to science by sponsoring a two-day symposium in their honor. The essays in this volume result from that sympo­ sium and are designed to illuminate both the diversity of their interests and the intensity of their research efforts. Biographical sketches of both men are provided by William N. Fenton and James H. Gunnerson, followed by their complete bibliographies. Smithsonian historical perspective is added by T.D. Stewart. The remaining essays focus on original research that relates to their career interests conducted by individuals whom they have influenced. These authors and their subjects are Douglas R. Parks on the scalped man character in Arikara and Pawnee folklore, Thomas R. Wessel on problems of adaptation among the Blackfeet Indians, Loretta Fowler on political developments among the Northern Arapahoe and Gros Ventres, Hugh A. Dempsey on the nature of band organization among nonhorticultural Plains Indians, James A. Han­ son on the evolution of Plains garments during the years of initial Indian- White contact, Mildred Mott Wedel on the historical ethnology of the Wichita-speaking peoples in the southern Central Plains, David Mayer Grad- wohl on the use of mussel shells in the removal of corn kernels for drying, Brian Hesse on problems of faunal analysis, John A. Hotopp on the Central Plains tradition in Iowa, George C. Prison on Paleo-Indian winter subsistence strategies, and Dennis J. Stanford on a review of the evidence for the early presence of man in the New World. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year. SERIES COVER DESIGN: Sioux Indian hide painting depicting mounted warriers. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title: ' Plains Indian studies. (Smithsonian contributions to anthropology ; no. 30) Bibliography: p. Supt. of Docs, no.: SI 1.30:30 1. Indians of North America—Great Plains—Addresses, essays, lectures. 2. Ewers, John Canfield—Addresses, essays, lectures. 3. Wedel, Waldo R. (Waldo Rudolph), ' 1908- —Addresses, essays, lectures. I. Ewers, John Canfield. II. Wedel Waldo Rudolph 1908- III. Ubelaker, Douglas H. IV. Viola, Herman J. V Series ' GN1.S54 no. 30 [E78.G73] 301s 81-607137 [978'.00497] AAGR2 Contents Page EDITORS' INTRODUCTION, by Douglas H. Ubelaker and Herman J. Viola 1 JOHN CANFIELD EWERS AND THE GREAT TRADITION OF ARTISTS AND ETHNOLOGISTS OF THE WEST, by William N. Fenton 11 WALDO R. WEDEL, ARCHEOLOGIST: PERSPECTIVES THAT GREW IN THE PLAINS, by James H. Gunnerson .; 18 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF JOHN C. EWERS 25 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WALDO R. WEDEL 33 REMINISCENCES, by T.D. Stewart 40 AN HISTORICAL CHARACTER MYTHOLOGIZED: THE SCALPED MAN IN ARIKARA AND PAWNEE FOLKLORE, by Douglas R. Parks 47 POLITICAL ASSIMILATION ON THE BLACKFOOT INDIAN RESERVATION, 1887- 1934: A STUDY IN SURVIVAL, by Thomas R. Wessel 59 "LOOK AT MY HAIR, IT IS GRAY": AGE GRADING, RITUAL AUTHORITY, AND POLITICAL CHANGE AMONG THE NORTHERN ARAPAHOES AND GROS VENTRES, by Loretta Fowler 73 HISTORY AND IDENTIFICATION OF BLOOD BANDS, by Hugh A. Dempsey 94 LACED COATS AND LEATHER JACKETS: THE GREAT PLAINS INTERCULTURAL CLOTHING EXCHANGE, by James A. Hanson 105 THE WICHITA INDIANS IN THE ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN, by Mildred Mott Wedel 118 SHELLING CORN IN THE PRAIRIE-PLAINS: ARCHEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE AND ETHNOGRAPHIC PARALLELS BEYOND THE PUN, by David Mayer Gradwohl 135 BIAS IN THE ZOOARCHEOLOGICAL RECORD: SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERPRE­ TATION OF BONE COUNTS IN FAUNAL SAMPLES FROM THE PLAINS, by Brian Hesse 157 SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE CENTRAL PLAINS TRADITION IN IOWA, by John A. Hotopp 173 PALEO-INDIAN WINTER SUBSISTENCE STRATEGIES ON THE HIGH PLAINS, by George C. Prison 193 A CRITICAL REVIEW OF ARCHEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE RELATING TO THE ANTIQUITY OF HUMAN OCCUPATION OF THE NEW WORLD, by Dennis J. Stanford 202 111 FIGURE 1.—^John C. Ewers and Waldo R. Wedel at the Smithsonian Symposium in their honor, 25 April 1980. Plains Indian Studies Editors' Introduction Douglas H. Ubelaker and Herman J. Viola Publication of this volume completes a project coverage of each and the respective lists of possi­ begun in late 1978 to honor John C. Ewers and ble scholars to be consulted, the overlap became Waldo R. Wedel, two distinguished emeritus cu­ apparent. The research of both men had focused rators in the Department of Anthropology at the on the Plains area of the United States, with Smithsonian Institution. Although Jack and Wedel concentrating on its prehistory as revealed Waldo had recently retired, they kept their offices through archeology and Ewers on its early history and continued their research and writing about as gleaned from archival and ethnological the ethnology and archeology of the Plains, much sources. Through Wedel's use of the direct histor­ as they had been doing for the previous forty ical approach and Ewers' desire to trace history years. Indeed, both of these quiet and unassuming as far back as possible, the common ground gentlemen had asked nothing more than to enjoy emerged. Early in their years at the Smithsonian a tranquil retirement and to remain members of a symbiotic intellectual relationship grew be­ the community of scholars on the Mall. tween them, nurtured by their mutual respect for But this could not be. Since both men had scholarship and knowledge. In addition they have been outstanding scholars their entire professional remained good friends and continue to share lives and could claim a large part of the credit for information, ideas, and professional contacts. Ac­ the prestige and distinction that Smithsonian cordingly, the planning group agreed upon a anthropology enjoys today, they obviously de­ single symposium to honor them jointly. served special recognition. Accordingly, a depart­ At this point, the work of co-ordinating the mental planning group of Kate C. Duncan (post­ symposium was turned over to Douglas H. Ube­ doctoral fellow), James A. Hanson (Office of laker and Herman J. Viola. They not only agreed Museum Programs), Sarah M. Quilter, William to serve as organizers of the symposium, but also C. Sturtevant, and Douglas H. Ubelaker (staff to edit the resulting publication. After receiving members) met to exchange ideas and suggestions. a financial commitment from the Smithsonian Two symposia were first suggested, one in honor Institution, Ubelaker and Viola met with Ewers of Ewers and one in honor of Wedel. However, as and Wedel to discuss topical coverage and poten­ the group discussed thematic and geographical tial participants. All agreed that presentations should be on topics within the geographical limits of the Plains area of the United States and the Douglas