Letters Dressed For Battle American Indians are interesting people and I have always wanted to know more about their history and culture. The information we have is very limited. I am glad that every once in a while we get more historical information about the first native peoples that inhabited the Americas. Your News article “Comanche Rock Art Depicts Leather-Armored Mounted Warriors” in the Summer issue was informative. With the petroglyphs, we now have some documented proof on what they wore to battle. The leather armor, made from bison skin, is unique. When they placed the armor on their horses, their horses became living tanks. Another fantastic bit about this article is that the archaeologists were able to date the rock to 1700 to 1750. That was incredible. Paul Dale Roberts Elk Grove, California
Studying Kennewick Man I seek to clarify your News article, “Scientists Win Another Kennewick Man Ruling” in the Summer issue. The article reports the recent decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the District Court’s decision as a victory of “scientists” over “Native Americans.” This shorthand reference to the plaintiffs and defendants in the case is misleading. Not all scientists are at odds with the Indian tribes and government agencies involved in this long-running suit. More importantly, the article suggests that, had the Indian tribes won, the remains would have been reburied “without a scientific study.” american archaeology
The Kennewick remains have been scientifically studied. Archaeologists, biological anthropologists, and physical anthropologists have conducted detailed and rigorous scientific studies organized by the Department of the Interior and the Army Corps of Engineers as part of the government’s effort to resolve this case. Your article perpetuates an inaccurate perception about scientific study of this set of human remains that is, unfortunately, widespread. Francis P. McManamon, Ph.D, RPA Chief Archeologist, National Park Service Washington, D.C.
Special Travel Special Great Summer issue. We especially liked the “Summer Travel Special” that told of areas of interest to visit and also provided contact information. Please keep doing that for other areas of the country in rotation. We also liked the “Deciphering Maya Hieroglyphs” article. Lewis Picher Denver, Colorado
Sending Letters to American Archaeology American Archaeology welcomes your letters. Write to us at 5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 902, Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517, or send us e-mail at tacmag@nm.net. We reserve the right to edit and publish letters in the magazine’s Letters department as space permits. Please include your name, address, and telephone number with all correspondence, including e-mail messages.
Editor’s Corner The accommodations at Casa de los Hombres were barely basic. Eight beds were crammed into four rooms. Laundry hung from makeshift clotheslines. Around five a.m. the residents began the daily competition for the single bath. A cold shower with low water pressure awaited. Later in the day there would be no running water. After showering and dressing, it was off to the dining room for a quick breakfast, and by seven a day of hot, sweaty work commenced. The task might be cleaning and organizing artifacts in the laboratory, but more likely it was working in the field, mapping, excavating, and screening dirt for artifacts. In the field there is every manner of bug to contend with, not to mention poisonous caterpillars and snakes. People pay good money to do this for two weeks. At least a handful of Earthwatch Institute volunteers did. They came from as far away as Australia to work on an archaeological project in southern Guatemala. This memorable, shall we say, vacation served as a bracing alternative to the more traditional fare of relaxing on the beach or touring foreign capitals. Earthwatch Institute sends volunteers all over the world to participate in research projects, archaeological and otherwise. The work can be hard and the rewards simple—in this case the discovery of a ceramic sherd or an obsidian flake. But, cold showers and all, it can make for a very rich experience.
3
