THE CHRONOLOGY OP PL UN8 ' I LT1 RE 



147 



can make the accompanying outline of Plains history, 

 or as we frequently say, the chronology of its culture. 



To make it easier to understand this chapter, we should 

 fix in our minds the following characteristics of Plain- 

 culture 4 : — 



They lived in the open grass land of the Great West. 



The buffalo is the keynote to their culture. 



About 1540 they became horse Indians, but before 

 that date used the dog for a beast of burden. 



The most typical tribes made no pottery, nor 

 attempted agriculture, but lived in tipis and roamed the 

 open plains. 



Chronology of Plains Culture. 



1880 Reservation Period. 



Gradual Americanization and disappear- 

 ance of native culture traits. 

 Extinction of the buffalo. 

 Many objects illustrated in this book and 

 exhibited in the Museum were made in 

 the early part of this period, but are 

 typical of the preceding. 



1540-1880 Horse Culture Period. 



The culture described in this book be- 

 longs here, but many customs, objects, 

 and decorative designs observed in 

 this period seem to have originated in 

 the pre-Columbian. 

 Probable intensification of roving habits, 

 buffalo hunting, and the use of skins. 



