Troubled waters : maritime cultures of the Andean fjords
The cultures of the fjord region of the southern end of South America have long been considered among the most primitive and mobile in the world, in contrast to maritime societies at high latitudes elsewhere. The purpose of this study was to re-examine this image by means of ethnohistorical documents and archaeological field work. After analyzing historical records I argue that the region did not remain isolated from the effects of European invasion of the continent, as has long been thought. Although colonies were not established there until the 19<SUP>th</SUP> century, the effects of colonization were felt soon after the arrival of the Spanish in the 15<SUP>th</SUP> century. Scholars who visited in later centuries observed the results of profound social disruption but interpreted the primitive conditions they witnessed in terms of prevailing anthropological theory, assuming that they were observing pristine societies. I assert here that the post-contact culture bore little relationship to earlier populations. The study describes archaeological field work at the village of Puerto EdĂ©n and the adjacent Messier Channel that was focused on two issues: 1) the conventional assumption that the aboriginal populations
Curry, P. J.
Troubled waters : maritime cultures of the Andean fjords. The cultures of the fjord region of the southern end of South America have long been considered among the most primitive and mobile in the world, in contrast to maritime societies at high latitudes elsewhere. The purpose of this study was to re-examine this image by means of ethnohistorical documents and archaeological field work. After analyzing historical records I argue that the region did not remain isolated from the effects of European invasion of the continent, as has long been thought. Although colonies were not established there until the 19<SUP>th</SUP> century, the effects of colonization were felt soon after the arrival of the Spanish in the 15<SUP>th</SUP> century. Scholars who visited in later centuries observed the results of profound social disruption but interpreted the primitive conditions they witnessed in terms of prevailing anthropological theory, assuming that they were observing pristine societies. I assert here that the post-contact culture bore little relationship to earlier populations. The study describes archaeological field work at the village of Puerto EdĂ©n and the adjacent Messier Channel that was focused on two issues: 1) the conventional assumption that the aboriginal populations
troubled water maritime culture andean culture region southern end south_america long consider among primitive mobile world contrast maritime society high latitude elsewhere purpose_study examine image mean ethnohistorical document archaeological field work analyze historical_record argue region remain isolated effect european invasion continent long thought although colony establish effect colonization felt soon arrival scholars visit observed profound social disruption interpret primitive condition witness term prevail anthropological_theory assume observe pristine society assert post contact culture bore little relationship earlier population study describe archaeological field work village adjacent channel focus_two issue conventional assumption aboriginal population