lecture 3; The Gravettians and the Hunting Traditions of the North

Question 1

when was the Ice Age?

Answer 1

(26,000 – 20,000 BP)

Question 2

Animals to the Gravettians?

Answer 2

ancestors; Killing an animal is not just about slaughter; It can also be spiritual and ritualistic

Question 3

gravettians moved to the Americas due to?

Answer 3

climate shifted due to global warming

Question 4

Gravettians are said to be the ancestors of the Plain Indians/ T or F

Answer 4

true

Question 5

Gravettians: 28,000 BP – 20,000 BP

Answer 5

• The first hunting society (organized and communal hunting)/ men
• Invented the first cold hunting
• They went where animals went cause they needed to hunt + save food, therefore lived in seasonal winter camps
• Gendering of sewing technology for clothing and footwear/ women
• Chief wore ceremonial shirt, an icon of power
• Venus Cult: Venus figurine
• They made needles out of bones and put a thread through them just like modern sewing

Question 6

what is a Steppe?

Answer 6

a large area of flat unforested grassland in south-eastern Europe and siberia

Question 7

Ceremonial Shirt:

Answer 7

used by Gravettians and plain Indians. Made out of animal skin

Question 8

why did the gravettians have Venus Cult and Venus of Willendorf with them while hunting?

Answer 8

for better hunt (good luck)

Question 9

what is a Lavvu?

Answer 9

a type of architecture that uses compression rings for stability, used by Sami people

Question 10

what is a Tipi?

Answer 10

architectural structure similar to the Lavvu used by plain indians

Question 11

The LAVVU: the Sami people in Finland

Answer 11

• Poles at top were open to the sky
• Disadvantage: rain can come in
• Compression rings: bent poles are arranged horizontally, giving a breadth to the space, includes an opening in the top of the tent.
• Only built once
• Stable and stationary
• Not built to be taken apart
• People can return to them after being away for hunting
• Modern day lavvu: covered in reindeer skin

Question 12

The TIPPI: the Plains Indians

Answer 12

• tipi is tilted at an angle (to the side)
• that stops rain and snow from coming inside
• separate space for smoke hole
• lavvu had compression rings, tipi didn’t. Instead, tippi had a very tight jacket wrapped around it.
• the poles collected to make tipi are collected from other areas through negotiation etc
• overtime the poles get shorter and shorter. people would cut them very long (as long as possible) so that they can last for a long time
• tipis were owned by women
• men only own tipis if they are shamans
• tipis were the responsibility of women
• Sioux women
• the tipis owned by shamans was probably made by women

Question 13

what are some similarities between tipis and lavvu?

Answer 13

• sacred space
• fire at entrance & visitors never crossed between inhabitants and the fire (boundary)
• visitors sit near door
• structures made of wood

Question 14

why is it important that there’s no compression rings?

Answer 14

• easy mobility
• easy transport
• less wood

Question 15

Head Smashed In, Canada:

Answer 15

• 9 meters of Bison bones
• Thousands upon thousands of slaughtered animals now covered by earth
• Plains Indians set up camps at the bottom and chased the animals and worked there
• The bison chased by hunters > bisons reach a dead end at the cliff > bisons fall > people at the bottom kill off the animals