article
Natchez political evolution
American anthropologist, n.s. • 26 • Published In 1962 • Pages: 201-229
By: Macleod, William Christie.
Abstract
This is a comparative study of Natchez sociopolitical organization. The social classes represented in the historical records are Suns, Nobles, Honored Men, and the Stinkards or commoners. The author argues that the Suns were not a class but a matrilineal royal family, whose male descendants fell in rank to Noble, then Honored Men, and finally to Stinkards in succeeding generations. Elevation from Stinkard to Honored Men or Honored Men (probably only descendants of Nobles) to Noble might be achieved through wartime valor. The Nobles were exogamous, taking their wives from among commoners.
- Region
- North America
- Sub Region
- Eastern Woodlands
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard; 2019
- Field Date
- not applicable
- Coverage Date
- 1680-1730
- Coverage Place
- Adams, Jefferson and Claiborne counties, Mississippi, United States
- Notes
- By William Christie MacLeod
- Reprinted by permission of the original publishers
- Includes bibliographical references
- LCCN
- 17015424
- LCSH
- Natchez Indians