Description
1950 edition. Dust jacket has significant wear and tears along the sides. Hardcover has some minor wear along the sides, scuffs and marks. Spine has some wear on the top and bottom. Pages are clean and the binding is secure.
This 1950 edition of Alfred W. Bowers’ “Mandan Social and Ceremonial Organization” offers a rare glimpse into the rich cultural traditions of the Mandan people, a Native American tribe that once thrived along the Missouri River in present-day North Dakota. Bowers, an anthropologist and curator at the Museum of the American Indian, spent years meticulously studying the Mandan way of life, documenting their intricate social structures, ceremonial practices, and belief systems.
This seminal work, part of the University of Chicago’s prestigious anthropology series, stands as a testament to the author’s dedication to preserving the knowledge and customs of a society that faced near-annihilation due to smallpox epidemics in the 19th century. Bowers’ detailed observations and analyses provide invaluable insights into the Mandan’s complex kinship systems, clan organization, and the symbolic significance of their elaborate rituals and ceremonies.
While the book’s exterior shows signs of its age, with a well-worn dust jacket and minor wear on the hardcover, the pages within remain clean and the binding secure, ensuring that this important anthropological record remains accessible to scholars, collectors, and anyone interested in exploring the fascinating cultural heritage of the Mandan people.
