ABSTRACT
The era of the horse Indians was but a small moment within the grand sweep of human life on the Plains, which spanned 11,000 years or more. The 10 generations or so of people who led the classic equestrian life participated in a drama of cultural adaptation that extended deep into the past. This story unfolded prior to the written observations of non-Indians; it is therefore not historic, but prehistoric. The prehistoric record is revealed through the excavation and examination of artifacts and human physical remains conducted by archaeologists and physical anthropologists, in the analysis of Indian languages which shows ancient connections, and in the oral traditions and picture writing of Native peoples. This chapter will focus on the Plains Indian past as it is reconstructed by anthropologists.
