article
Natchez class and rank reconsidered
Ethnology • 10 (4) • Published In 1971 • Pages: 369-388
By: White, Douglas, Murdock, George Peter, Scaglion, Richard.
AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
This study is a critique of Swanton's (1911) interpretation of the Natchez class system and an examination of the so-called "Natchez Paradox," which refers to the practice of class exogamy by Suns (chiefs) and Nobles. The paradox is that within a few generations there would be no prospective wives available from among the commoner class and the social hierarchy would become top-heavy. Swanton's model is not symmetric. Based on demographic data in the historical records, the authors argue for a two-class system of commoners and nobility, with Suns and Honored men being ranks and titles within the latter. Furthermore, the Natchez Paradox is no longer a paradox if women could not pass on their rank to their offspring.
- SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
- Historical and archival research
- Status, role, and prestige
- Classes
- Rule of descent
- Chief executive
- Executive household
- cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
- Natchez
- RegionThe area the document pertains to
- North America
- Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
- Eastern Woodlands
- Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
- Ian Skoggard; 2019
- Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
- not applicable
- Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
- 1700-1731
- Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
- Adams, Jefferson and Claiborne counties, Mississippi, United States
- NotesAdditional notes
- Douglas R. White, George P. Murdock, Richard Scaglion
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 387-388)
- LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
- 64005713
- LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
- Natchez Indians