A tally of years following an important event was sometimes kept on a notched stick. The best-known record commemorates the spectacular meteor shower (the Leonids) of 1833. Some northern tribes recorded series of events by pictographs, and one such record, said to have been originally painted on a buffalo robe and known as the “Lone-Dog Winter Count,” covers a period of 71 years beginning with 1800. Early explorers had little opportunity to learn about the calendrical devices of the Indians, which were probably held sacred and secret. Contact with Europeans and their Christian calendar doubtless altered many aboriginal practices. Thus, present knowledge of the systems used in the past may not reflect their true complexity.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 18:32:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015