Human Trophy Taking on the Northwest Coast: An Ethnohistorical Perspective

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the evidence for human trophy taking on the Northwest Coast from archaeological, historical, and ethnographic records. Although trophy taking has been commonly associated with raiding and warfare, whether this was the cause or the result of these practices will be examined from an ethnohistorical perspective. The chapter examines the purposes and functions of Northwest Coast trophy taking and display, with particular regard to its relationship to warfare, slave taking, ritual, ideology and the appropriation of prestige prerogatives associated with status.