It was a good idea then too!!!

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 5:48 pm

This was sent to me and I thought it was interesting enough to pass along to the whole board.

I did a search to see if it had already been posted here, and if it was I missed it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_Point

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:03 pm

I haven't heard of PovertyPoint or Watson Brake. I wonder if there's any links between that place and Cahokia? There are some interesting similiarities in particular the mound building.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahokia

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:04 pm

First time I'd heard of them also. Gotta do a little digging into it now...

Post by **Eric** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:55 pm

The biggest problem with the Mound Builders is that there is no known written information, so everything is based off of the similarities & dates of surviving items- pottery, jewelry, shell-beads, woodwork.....

Poverty Point is a very early mound, and it's not really known if anything was passed on to later builders.

There is a gap of about 700 years between Poverty Point & the next mound culture, the "Adena" culture. Adena mounds were tombs so more is known about their deaths than how they lived, and the Adena influence is seen from Indiana all the way north to some outpost in Vermont.

After the Adena came the Hopewell Culture, after them (or growing from them) came Cahokia & the Mississippian Culture, which is probably the most well known.

If you want a good, very readable synthesis of current understanding and studies of the pre-Columbian Americas (some North, but mainly Central & South) may I suggest "1491" by Charles Mann.

Wikipedia is great to dip your feet into and find things you never knew about, but I wouldn't trust it for research.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:59 pm

I've ordered a copy of 1491 to take a look. I've been to the Cahokia site several times and I try and read anything I can about it. I appreciate the suggestion.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:51 am

Barry Fell has some interesting books in this area.
I called him once and was told that many sites are well known, but rarely publicized in an effort to protect them.
I have seen tall flat stones that appear to be grave markers covered with rune carvings. There are lots of these in very good condition.

Post by **Eric** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:35 pm

Kinetic IV wrote:I've ordered a copy of 1491 to take a look.

[bookreview]
I proselytize this book like no other piece of non-fiction I've ever read. I've been devouring history books for over 30 years and have a fairly good grounding (I think) in world history, but this showed me how blind I was to the pre-Columbian Americas. A facinating book that has spurred me to try to hunt up books from his bibliography to read more. If you're really interested in the mound cultures and other pre-European cultures, read this. [/bookreview]

sorry.
I just had to get that out.

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:11 pm

I just finished 1491 a few months ago. fascinating.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:39 am

I found a copy for $1 and started it. I love the first two chapters and his deconstruction of the myths of settling of the Americas by the white man and I think that he's saying some important stuff. My reading is all over the place (poor concentration due to the grief stuff) but I'd love to hear a further reading list from you Eric, world history wise.

Post by **Eric** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:50 pm

Aw shucks Fishy, you're gonna make me blush.

Off Topic

If you want things that are easy to read in short bursts so that you don't have to worry about concentration - grief is a process that should be allowed to take it's course- I would recommend either "Salt" or "Cod" by Mark Kurlansky- especially "Salt". Facinating books about subjects you wouldn't really think of, and you can dip into a chapter and then put it down when you want. I've read Salt....um... three times now, I think.

Kurlansky's "1968" is also an interesting read. Actually, the only one of his books that didn't blow me away was "The Basques", and I think a big reason for that was the fact that the history was primarily of one place, whereas most of his books touch down all over the world.

As for other suggestions- let me know what era or interest tickles you, and I'll let you (or anyone who asks) know if I have any recommendations.

I will not leave my house without reading materials- I even have a book or some science/ history magazines in camp on the playa, just in case I need to read. So far I haven't, but there is something appealing about the idea of just biking out to deep playa by myself and sitting under an umbrella reading for a while.

karine · Post by **karine** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:29 pm

Ordered my copy (of 1491) for $8 tonight!

Monkeypoo · Post by **Monkeypoo** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:56 pm

Back on subject....and here in the middle of a conversation....

It was a good idea back then.....

My little brother had just gotten out the shower. Prior to this he was being a royal pain in my ass. I never wanna be the oldest of 8 kids (BRATS) again...

"I'm the BIG sister, so don't ever fuck with me...." - was my motto...

We were living in Springfield, Oregon. It was winter. When David got out of the shower, wrappped in his little white towel, I was waiting for him outside the door. I threw his defiant little bratty ass self out the front door - took away his towel and made him shiver in the snow until he cried and begged me, "Donita! I'll be GOOD!!! I PROMISE!!!"

**crazy laugh inserted here**

Big Sisters ALWAYS RULE.... Don't ever forget it. Heh.