Inconstant Companions: Archaeology and North American Indian Oral Traditions (Religion and American Culture (University of Alabama))

One of the most significant theoretical issues in contemporary American archaeology—the role of oral tradition in scientific research. Ronald J. Mason explores the tension between aboriginal oral traditions and the practice of archaeology in North America. That exploration is necessarily interdisciplinary and set in a global context. Indeed, the issues at stake are universal in the current era of intellectual "decolonization" and multiculturalism. Unless committed to writing, even the most esteemed utterances are inevitably forgotten with the passing of generations, however much the succeeding ones try to reproduce what they think they had heard. Writing shares with archaeo-logical remains a greater, if unequal, durability. Through copious examples across academic and ethnographic spectra and over millennia, Mason examines the disparate functions of traditional "ways of knowing" in contrast to the paradigm of science and critical historiography. Ronald J. Mason Explores The Tension Between Aboriginal Oral Traditions And The Practice Of Archaeology In North America. That Exploration Is Necessarily Interdisciplinary And Set In A Global Context. Indeed, The Issues At Stake Are Universal In The Current Era Of Intellectual Decolonization And Multiculturalism. Unless Committed To Writing, Even The Most Esteemed Utterances Are Inevitably Forgotten With The Passing Of Generations, However Much The Succeeding Ones Try To Reproduce What They Think They Had Heard. Writing Shares With Archaeological Remains A Greater, If Unequal, Durability. Through Copious Examples Across Academic And Ethnographic Spectra And Over Millennia, Mason Examines The Disparate Functions Of Traditional Ways Of Knowing In Contrast To The Paradigm Of Science And Critical Historiography.--jacket. Introduction -- On History -- On Memory -- Norsemen, Trojans, And Ancient Israelites -- On The Nature Of Oral Tradition -- Mixing Apples And Oranges, Or Looking For Kernels Of Truth -- Mammoth Remembrances -- On The Historicity Of Symbols And Symbolic Praxis -- On The Central Siouans Before J. Owen Dorsey -- Conclusions. Ronald J. Mason. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [253]-286) And Index. One of the most significant theoretical issues in contemporary American archaeology & mdash; the role of oral tradition in scientific research. Ronald J. Mason explores the tension between aboriginal oral traditions and the practice of archaeology in North America. That exploration is necessarily interdisciplinary and set in a global context. Indeed, the issues at stake are universal in the current era of intellectual "decolonization" and multiculturalism. Unless committed to writing, even the most esteemed utterances are inevitably forgotten with the passing of generations, however muc Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 1. Introduction......Page 14 2. On History......Page 35 3. On Memory......Page 58 4. Norsemen, Trojans, and Ancient Israelites......Page 80 5. On the Nature of Oral Tradition......Page 108 6. Mixing Apples and Oranges, or Looking for Kernels of Truth......Page 145 7. Mammoth Remembrances......Page 163 8. On the Historicity of Symbols and Symbiolic Praxis......Page 176 9. On the Central Siouans Before J. Owen Dorsey......Page 210 10. Conclusions......Page 246 Reference Cited......Page 266 Index......Page 300