The Origins of Scalping

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, despite the meager archaeological and anthropological findings that scalping was evident in pre-Columbian America, there is overwhelming proof that scalping originated in Europe and was imported by the Colonists to North America. The author presents the history of the long European tradition of scalping, which commenced as early as the 7th century B.C. with the Canute or Cnut, and continued throughout history even becoming entrenched in the etymology of European languages. The paper states that the Indians were not the original savages but rather the Europeans, who legitimized the practice of scalping with the Scalping Proclamation of 1756 by the governor of Pennsylvania, who offered rewards for the scalps of Indians---men, women and children. Many quotes. Illustration.

Table of Contents
Introduction
The Argument
The Scythians
Scalping Traditions in Europe
The importation of Scalping
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Counter to this perspective is the more conventional and generally accepted view that scalping was a rite and practice that can be found in pre-Columbian America. This assertion is based on a few archeological finds which hint at the practice of scalping through physical marks on skulls. However, there is no unanimity that these archeological finds are conclusive proof of the earlier practice of scalping by the indigenous inhabitants of the continent."

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