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Wichita Indians
Links:
The Wichita Indians
Handbook of Texas Online - Wichita
Wichita Indian Tribe History
Wichita Culture and History
Outline of Class Discussion
Introduction:
In North Central Texas including DFW area, apparently well populated in late prehistoric period
Today, several active sites under investigation
Bird Point Island near Corsicana, 1100-1200, thatched structures,
diversity of diet but no corn found leading to conclude not farmers
Flower Mound, Texas
Cobb-Pool Site at Lake Joe Pool
42 archaeological and historical sites in vicinity
Study conducted by SMU
Small, briefly occupied camps of hunter/gatherers; several larger reoccupied camps and small prehistoric village
Pottery fragments dated to 900-1000 CE (AD)
Also middens, earth pit, platforms for food drying and storage,
bone fragments, mussel shells, flint flakes, flint knife, charred seeds
Show
Caddo traits
Like others in area, was a confederation that included Wichita,
Waca, Tawakonis, Taovayas, Tawehas, Yscani, and Kichai
All spoke Wichita language except Kichai who had own language
Wichita, a Caddoan language (three plains Caddoan languages - Wichita, Pawnee, Kichai)
Also used bois d'arc bow; lived in thatched dome houses using cedar
Established traders, superior farmers, Caddo influenced pottery
Many tattoos - called selves "raccoon-eyed people" because of tattooing (George Catlin painted in 1834)
At same time, different that Caddo
Less bureaucratic - just chief, subchief and shaman
Taboo on eating fish
Moved more - migrated in winter to find bison and then used tepees; considered
semi-sedentary
Women wore long dresses from chin to ankles
Perhaps more warlike but did "count coup" although killing (stabbing) brought prestige
These traits more like Plains Indians and allied with Comanche; enraged settlers with raiding
To Next Class Discussion: The Tonkawa of Texas
