Alfred W. Bowers' History of the Mandan and Hidatsa: A significant resource for Plains anthropology

Abstract

Alfred W. Bowers’ work epitomized the direct historical approach in Plains anthropology. Bowers integrated archaeology, ethnohistory, and ethnology in his studies of the tribes of the Middle Missouri subarea. Yet his archaeological and historical research and interpretations have not been widely recognized. Bowers’ 1948 dissertation, A History of the Mandan and Hidatsa, and associated collections, have only recently become easily accessible. Bowers’ dissertation employed oral history and tradition, ethnohistoric accounts, and archaeological data to develop accounts of Mandan and Hidatsa history supported by independent lines of evidence. The culture-historical system he developed for Mandan and Hidatsa prehistory and history is a valuable framework for structuring and understanding Middle Missouri archaeology and cultural sequences and relationships. We review Bowers’ career, assess the significance of his work, and discuss the associated collections and their research potential.