Nukak: ethnoarcheology of an Amazonian people

414 Pages·2007·11.66 MB·English

by  Gustavo Politis

NUKAK
2 (cid:1) CONTENTS
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NUKAK
Ethnoarchaeology of an
Amazonian People
Gustavo G. Politis
translated by Benjamin Alberti
Walnut Creek, CA
University College London Institute of Archaeology Publications
Left Coast Press, Inc.
1630 North Main Street, #400
Walnut Creek, California 94596
http://www.Lcoastpress.com
Copyright © 2007 Gustavo G. Politis; first paperback edition 2009
ISBN 978-1-59874-229-9 (hardback)
ISBN 978-1-59874-230-5 (paperback)
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior
permission of the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-In-Publication Data
Politis, Gustavo G.
[Nukak. English]
Nukak: ethnoarchaeology of an Amazonian people/Gustavo Politis;
translated by Benjamin Alberti.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Nukak Indians—Social life and customs. I. Title.
F2270.2.N8P65 2007 981'.13—dc22 2006102358
09 10 11 12 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this publication meets
the minimum requirements of American
National Standard for Information
Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed
Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48—1992.
Cover design by Andrew Brozyna
To Iannis, Theo, and Amparo
6 (cid:1) CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Preface 11
Acknowledgments 13
Illustrations 17
Tables 23
1. Introduction 25
The Nukak and the Makú 31
Recent History of the Nukak 36
History of Contact 38
Previous Studies 43
Environment 47
Physiography and Soils
Plant Physiognomy of the Environments in Nukak Territory
Final Considerations 53
2. Theory and Methods: Ethics and Techniques 55
On Ethnoarchaeology 58
Ethnoarchaeology in South America 63
Fieldwork 66
Data Collection: Methods, Techniques, and Problems 69
Ethics 72
Concluding Remarks 74
3. Sociopolitical Organization and Cosmology 77
Sociopolitical Organization 77
Ideology and Cosmology 84
Final Considerations 92
4. Shelters and Camps 99
Architecture of the Shelters 100
The Residential Camp 106
The Construction of Residential Camps 114
Other Types of Camps 119
Transitory Camps
Small Shelters Peripheral to Residential Camps
8 (cid:1) CONTENTS
Small Shelters between Camps
Rectangular Constructions in Chagras,
or the “House of the Tapir”
Bridges
Discussion
Final Remarks 127
5. The Use of Space and Discard Patterns 131
Residential Camp Activity Areas 132
Discard Patterns during Residential Camp Occupation 137
Abandonment Refuse 145
The Symbolic and Communicative Dimension of Waste 152
Discussion 153
6. Residential and Logistical Mobility: Daily Foraging Trips 161
The Multiple Dimensions of Territory 162
Residential Mobility 165
Logistical Mobility 170
Daily Foraging Trips 171
Final Considerations 179
7. Traditional Technology 189
The Nukak and the Adoption of Western Technology 193
Traditional Technology 196
Hunting and Fishing Weapons
Other Elements Used in Food Procurement
Plant Product Procurement and Food Preparation Utensils
Furnishings and Accessories
The Social and Ideological Dimensions of Nukak Technology 224
Final Considerations 229
8. Subsistence 237
Nondomesticated Plants 240
Animal Resources 256
Insect and Insect By-Product Resources 263
Fish and Aquatic Animals 267
Cultivation 275
Food from the Colonos 278
The Ideational Aspect of Food 278
The Annual Circle and the Creation of Wild Orchards 281
Contents (cid:1) 9
Discussion 285
Conclusion 288
9. Animal Exploitation, Processing, and Discard 291
Hunted and Taboo Animals 294
Hunting and Processing Strategies 300
White-Lipped Peccary
Monkey
Tortoise
Birds
Caiman
Bone-Discard Pattern 315
Archaeological Visibility of Butchering Patterns 316
and Bone Discard
Transport 319
Conclusions 321
10. Final Considerations 325
The Nukak as Hunter-Gatherers 325
Territory and Mobility 329
The Use of Plants 333
Technology 335
Hunting and Food Taboos 337
The Western View of Amazonian Hunter-Gatherers 341
Final Words 343
Appendix I. Sample of Daily Foraging Trips 345
Appendix II. Patterns of Bone Representation 357
and Surface Bone Modification Caused
by Nukak Prey Acquisition by Gustavo A. Martínez
Material and Methods 358
Sample Analysis 362
Discussion 366
Conclusions 373
Bibliography 377
Index 407
About the Author 412