Customer Reviews

The Karankawa Indians of Texas: An Ecological Study of Cultural Tradition and Change (Texas Archaeology & Ethnohistory)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Robert Ricklis' "The Karankawa Indians of Texas" (1996) presents an informative and technical study for the Native Americans living along the Texas Coastal Bend prior to the 16th century Europeans' arrival. This 222-page paperback "ecological study" is well documented with two lengthy appendixes and 21 pages of bibliography. Multiple graphs, charts, maps, and figures attest to the books considerable research.

Ricklis reviews several archaeological sites along the Texas Gulf Coast, from Matagorda Bay to Corpus Christi Bay, for evidence of the Karankawa culture. As a Research Fellow at University of Texas and the President of a private archaeological firm he personally attended many of the locations through the 1980s. Studying the remains of everything from animal bones to pottery chards at each site, he assembles an informative look at this ancient (and now extinct) Native American group.

From his research Ricklis concludes that the Karankawas were much taller than most other Native Americans of their era (p.9), that they were indeed cannibalistic (but probably only for ritual purposes, p. 147), and their initial encounter with Europeans- 16th century Spaniards- was friendly (only later did these fierce warriors attempt to rescue themselves from Spanish encroachment, see chapter 9).

One learns of the Karankawa adaptation efforts to Spanish ways (chapter 7), the terrible devastation from European sicknesses in the native population (chapter 8), and later Spanish desire to eradicate the Karankawas (p. 152). Ricklis also introduces readers to several archaeological components and suggestions: "B.P." as "before present" (p.44) for much of his site dating, Story's "lag effect theory" (p. 58) at various Rockport Phase locations, and that prehistoric people (who presumably matured into the Karankawas) inhabited the Coastal Bend region "as far back as 4,500 year ago" (p. 70).

Although "The Karankawa Indians of Texas" is somewhat technical in presentation the non technical reader will also be interested in its learning. It is recommended to all archaeologists, students of Native American history, Texas historians, Texas Coastal Bend buffs, and history students.