Book

When stars came down to earth: cosmology of the Skidi Pawnee Indians of North America

Ballena Press ; Center for Archaeoastronomy, University of Maryland • (26) • Published In 1982 • Pages: 270

By: Chamberlain, Von Del.

Abstract

This is a study of Pawnee ethnoastronomy. The work attempts to describe the objects and phenomena of the sky as they were perceived by the Skidi (Skiri) Pawnee, and the effect that they had on religious beliefs and practices. In general the book attempts to consolidate materials written about Pawnee ethnoastronomy scattered through various sources , many of which were written around the beginning of the twentieth century. Other ethnographic topics deal with native concepts relating to sky phenomena, an annotated list of sky objects referred to in the records, the Skidi earth lodge as a model of Pawnee cosmology, the Skidi observational system, and the unique star chart inscribed on buckskin used by the Pawnee over the ages in their study of the heavens.

HRAF PubDate

1998

Region

North America

Sub Region

Plains and Plateau

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Types

Astronomer

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

John Beierle ; 1997

Field Date

no date

Coverage Date

ca. 1800-1915

Coverage Place

Skidi (Skiri), Chawi (Chaui), Kitkahahki, and Pitahawirata bands; northern Kansas and Nebraska, United States

Notes

by Von Del Chamberlain

Includes bibliographical references (p. 257-261) and index

LCCN

82016390

LCSH

Pawnee Indians