PRIMATIVE AMERICAN ARMOR

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

ONE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE OLD NORTH AMERICAN ARMOR IS THAT IT WAS AS WELL CONSTRUCTED AS THE ARMOR USED IN MANY OTHER COUNTRYS AROUND THE WORLD THAT DID NOT HAVE METALS EASILY AVAILABLE. ALL FORMS AND CONSTRUCTION TECKNIQUES OF PRIMATIVE ARMOR (NON METALLIC) SEEM TO HAVE BEEN USED AND TO HAVE BEEN OF A QUALITY ON A PAR WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS AROUND THE WORLD.
HEAD PROTECTION WAS USED IN SOME AREAS AND SOME WAS MADE TO LOOK LIKE SOME FIERCE BEAST TO CAUSE THE ENEMY TO FEAR YOU AND AS ONLY VERY GOOD WARRIORS WORE SUCH THINGS IT WAS ALSO A SYMBOL OF STATUS AND WOULD ATTRACT SUITABLE FOES FROM THE OTHER SIDE AS TO KILL SUCH A WARRIOR WOULD BRING PRESTIEGE AND WOULD PROVE A WORTHY FOE.
MOST ARMOR DID NOT HAVE A FIERCE MASK COVERING THE FACE AS SOMETIMES SEEN IN SAMURAI ARMOR BUT IN THE AMERICAS NO DOUBT WAR PAINTS MADE A FIERCE ENOUGH FACE AND DID NOT INTERFERE WITH ONES SIGHT.
I HAVE READ OF ARMOR, SHIELDS AND BOW QUIVERS BEING MADE FROM THE ARMORED HIDE OF THE LARGE GAR FISH IN THE AMERICAS. TURTLE SHELLS AND CROCODILE HIDES ARE USED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD SO IT IS LIKELY TURTLE AND ALLIGATOR SKINS WERE USED IN THE AMERICAS TOO. THE BACK SKIN MAKES A VERY GOOD ARMOR AS THERE ARE BONE PLATES CALLED SCUTES BUILT INTO THE SKIN
AS TO OTHER RACES VISITING THE AMERICAS IN THE PAST IT IS MORE LIKELY THAN THE ARGUMENT THAT NO ONE EVER CAME EXCEPT ACROSS THE BERING STRAIGHTS. IN OKLAHOMA THERE ARE SEVERAL SITES WHERE WRITEING CAN BE FOUND WITH EVERYTHING FROM SPANISH TO NORSE TO EGYPTIAN. BUT THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY COLUMBUS WAS THE FIRST WHITE MAN EVER AS WELL AS THOSE WHO SAY MANY OTHER THINGS.
THE SIMULARITYS TO POTTERY DESIGNS AND TECKNIQUES AND TO ARROW POINTS AND TOOLS FOUND IN THE OLD AND NEW WORLDS WOULD LEAD ONE TO LOGICALLY THINK THERE WERE WAVES OF IMMIGRATION AND EXPLORATION BY GROUPS OF EXPLORERS AND ADVENTURERS IN THE AMERICAS AS WELL AS EVERYWHERE ELSE. AS NONE OF IT CAN BE PROVED I RESERVE MY JUDGEMENT AND LET THE OTHERS ARGUE AS THEY WILL.

Excellent thread Barry, and this is a great post as well. The book "Native American Weapons" by Colin Taylor is indeed excellent, and the Smithsonian report you have referenced is one of many references in the bibliography.

The variations in armour you have categorized from the Native American tribes and 'Eskimo' or Inuit people are as noted, amazingly well made with materials most accessible, and the methods of construction are in many ways surprisingly consistant with styles of other cultures. Naturally in the constantly debated and controversial theories of intercultural contact that would support influences in these forms of armour, it is hard to show any direct development other than free association in most cases.

The decoration on most defensive items as far as I have understood is mostly totemic or spiritually symbolic or both in varying degree, and often talismanic in many of the applications.

Excellent observation on the face masks, and I have understood that much as in African masks, most Native American masks that encase the face and head are ceremonial, and as you well point out, they would be terrible in combat as they would severely impair vision and movement.

The use of war paint, more notable in tribes toward and including the Plains and Prairies, utilizes key symbolism that represents values and properties important to the individual, as well as status in tribal systems. While this facial and often bodily applied art work certainly would look frightening to unaccustomed individuals facing them in combative situations, it was not in itself intended specifically to frighten, but to enhance the warriors strength and abilities.
The horses were often painted very much in kind with the symbolisms painted on the warrior, as they were very much a team. Many of the symbols often seen on the horse represented the achievements he and his rider had accomplished, as well as also to enhance his powers in battle.

Regarding the prehistoric ancestry of the Native American tribes, the long standing theory of movements of early man across the Bering land bridge is well established. However, many theories derived from numerous archaeological discoveries in recent years have suggested that perhaps there are many potential points of entry. The discovery of the remains of the so called Kennewick Man, in Washington in 1996, has created considerable rethinking in certain theories, as well as important movement toward creating protective legislation for Native American ancestry.

The number of hoaxes and discoveries of completely astounding artifacts and inscriptions etc. in remote regions of America seem to reflect the creativity and devious nature of humanity in modern times. While it is known that well educated and scholarly individuals often accompanied the early explorers in thier incursions into the inner regions of America, they were intent on the claiming of these parts of the New World for thier king or queen, not handing it off to Egyptians, Sumerians or any other culture or power.

Most of these purported evidences of these ancient cultures have been disproven. In Arizona, the so called 'Peralta Stones' which are supposed to hold clues to the Lost Dutchman Mine and to have been left by earlier Spanish in accordance with ancestral claims to this treasure, are mostly considered a hoax. In looking at images of these the symbols look almost cartoonish, and even the Spanish words are spelled incorrectly and incongruent.

Lots to consider, but absolutely fascinating history!!!

All the best,
Jim