Incentives to the Study of the Ancient Period of American History / An address, delivered before the New York Historical / Society, at its forty-second anniversary, 17th November 1846

Name: Incentives to the Study of the Ancient Period of American History / An address, delivered before the New York Historical / Society, at its forty-second anniversary, 17th November 1846
Author: Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

By Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

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Archaeology & Anthropology History - American

About This Book

An address urging systematic study of the continent's ancient period, outlining incentives for interdisciplinary inquiry by surveying linguistic, ethnological, and archaeological evidence. It describes earthworks, mounds, pyramids, ruined temples and habitations, and sculptured artifacts and cultivated traces across temperate and tropical regions, notes the paucity of deciphered inscriptions, and evaluates how philology and material typologies might reveal ancient affinities. The speaker raises questions about connections between distant monument types and advocates careful comparative standards and further research to clarify the antiquity and interrelations of prehistoric populations.

About the Author

Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

Henry Rowe Schoolcraft was an American geographer, ethnologist, and writer, known for his extensive studies of Native American cultures and languages. His notable work, "Algic Researches," explores the mental characteristics and folklore of North American Indians, providing valuable insights into their traditions and beliefs. Schoolcraft's writings often reflect his deep engagement with the indigenous peoples of the United States, as seen in his personal memoirs detailing thirty years of residence with various tribes. His contributions to the understanding of Native American history and culture have left a lasting impact on the field of ethnology.