Hi, I am seeking the community’s knowledge regarding precolumbian communities on the modern east coast of the usa, or similarly in coastal brazil and la plata areas of south america.
To be honest, I am not convinced by modern narratives that only relatively less complex (compared to Aztec, Mayan, Incan communities) precolumbian indigenous communities existed where european settlers have established their largest populations in the western hemisphere.
That is, to me, it looks like the evidence of some of the most complex precolumbian societies has been systematically destroyed by settlers to hide the depth of their crimes. The most succinct way to phrase this is that I find it odd that the area of the modern east coast of the usa (as well as brazil, argentina) did not have a historical society at least as complex as the nearby, contemporaneous Mississippian cultures when the land and climate of the east coast region are so favorable to large, complex societies.
Does anybody have resources regarding this? I am interested in any evidence that will help me read between the lines of the contemporary narrative, or I otherwise would appreciate evidence arguing the main idea outlined here is invalid.
Oh you’re gonna have a really hard time, the east coast of the US was hit the hardest by colonization. Particularly where the 13 colonies were settled. I can share some resources about my tribe the Nanticoke AKA the Tidewater people, but most of the east coast tribes were nomadic and didn’t settle in one single spot to make cities or anything. I think the closest to the east coast city is probably going to be Cahokia.
The unfortunate thing is that unless you get talking directly with elders of the east coast tribes most of the information you’ll find is going to be from settler scholars. Our cultures were the first to see appropriation and for that reason are especially closed off if not already completely consumed by Christianity.
The best book on my tribe is “Delaware’s Forgotten Folk: The Story of the Moors and Nanticokes”. You can find it on zlibrary too I think. When you look for sources on tribes and their cultures and whatever else make sure you’re looking for a Native contributor in some form. Doesn’t have to be from the tribe you’re researching but it’s a good surface level way to make sure you’re not getting fed horse shit.
My sister tribe the Lenni Lenape also has some good resources available, including a talking dictionary which is a huge accomplishment. You can find books of their stories with some quick searching.
For more information I’d recommend going on the hellsite of reddit and asking /r/IndianCountry.
Wow, this is extremely helpful! thank you so much for taking the time to write this! I will absolutely check out that book you recommended
