Native American Weapons [Hardcover]

Colin F. Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2001

Featuring 155 color photographs and illustrations, Native American Weapons surveys weapons made and used by American Indians north of present-day Mexico from prehistoric times to the late nineteenth century, when European weapons were in common use.

Colin F. Taylor skillfully describes the weapons and their roles in tribal culture, economy, and political systems. He categorizes the weapons according to their function--from striking, cutting, and piercing weapons to those with defensive and even symbolic properties, and he documents the ingenuity of the people who crafted them.

Taylor explains the history and use of weapons such as the atlatl, a lethal throwing stick whose basic design was enhanced by carving, painting, or other ornamentation. The atlatl surprised De Soto's expedition and contributed to the Spaniards' defeat. Another highlight is Taylor's description of the evolution of body armor, first fashioned to defend against arrows, then against bullets from early firearms.

Over thousands of years the weapons were developed and creatively matched to their environment--highly functional and often decorative, carried proudly in tribal gatherings and in war.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this taut and generously illustrated overview, Taylor (Buckskin and Buffalo: The Artistry of the Plains Indians) zeroes in on North American Indian arms and armor from prehistoric times to the late 19th century, dividing his subject into five efficient categories. The chapter on striking weapons covers war clubs and tomahawks, cutting weapons include knives from Folsom stone to Bowie, piercing weapons comprise spears and bows and arrows, and defensive weapons feature the seldom-emphasized armor both men and horses wore in battle. Most interesting, however, is the chapter on symbolic weapons, which describes how powerful icons on dress or ornament were used to ward off blows. The illustrations mostly color photos of objects help the reader see distinctions between, for example, a regular tomahawk and a spontoon or French one. Old paintings and photographs show the weapons held by their owners, giving both a time frame and a sense of their importance. The text is packed and yet very readable, and the amount of history, tribal distinction, and construction detail given in such a short book is astounding. This excellent introduction is a bargain for any library. Gay Neale, Meredithville, VA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Colin F. Taylor, formerly a Senior Lecturer at Hastings College of Arts and Technology, England, is a writer, lecturer, and film consultant. He is the author of Buckskin and Buffalo: The Artistry of the Plains Indians, coauthor of With Eagle Tail, editor of Native American Arts and Crafts, and coeditor of The Native Americans: The Indigenous People of North America.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806133465
• ISBN-13: 978-0806133461
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 7.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,190,756 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gall, November 21, 2007

By 

Kansa "Native Reader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Native American Weapons (Paperback)

I am always amazed by the tedious research necessary for a book of this quality. The writer has only the yearly count and verbal stories from which to verify the "white mans" account. This is a must read for anyone truly interested in the true history of this country, that seems to have been so frequently left out of our history books.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A recommended pick for both military history and Native American collections, March 4, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Native American Weapons (Paperback)

In Native American Weapons, well over a hundred color photos and illustrations provide an important, detailed survey of weapons made and used by Native Americans from Mexico to the US, ancient to modern times. Accompanying these photos and drawings are clear surveys and explanations of both the weapons and their roles in tribal culture and systems. A recommended pick for both military history and Native American collections.