Re: Body Decoration

Carlos Ocampo (csantr@ABELLO.SECI.UCHILE.CL)
Tue, 24 May 1994 00:06:02 -0500

On Fri, 13 May 1994, Michelle Cameron No. Reading HS94 wrote:

> Hello--
>
>
> I am doing a research project on body decoration-
> both in American societies, and societies around the in societies around the wor
> ld.
> I am looking for any information regarding body decoration in
> foreign cultures. I would appreciate any input about human adornment
> and any explanations as to why it is done and what it symbolizes.
>
> Thank You in advance for your help.
>
> Michelle Cameron
>


Dear Michelle about body decoration in Patagonia, that's a very
suggestive and interesting theme, involving three diferent cultures
here , Selk'nam, Yamana (yaghan) Kawesqar (alacaluf) let me suggest
you the following reading list.



The main is: " DIE FUERLAND INDIANER" BAND I.- DIE SELK'NAM
BAND II.- DIE YAMANA
BAND III.-DIE ALAKALUF
By Martin Gusinde (Modling-Wien) 1937

There is also an Spanish Translation Edited by The CAEA

"LOS INDIOS DE LA TIERRA DEL FUEGO" VOLUMEN I LOS SELK'NAM .1982
VOLUMEN II LOS YAMANA. 1986
VOLUMEN III LOS ALACALUFES. 1991
Martin Gusinde.,Edited by Centro Argentino de Etnologia Americana
Buenos Aires., Argentina.

The three volumes has chapters named: "Body Decoration"

All the groups mentioned used the body paint and some type of
tattooing. In the case of the selk'nam the body paint was used
to express different feelings or intentions , and the tattooing
as a youth aesthetics scarification practice.
.."Durante la pubertad los muchachos y muchachas suelen entretenerse
haciendo cicatrices ornamentales llamadas losti......."
(Gusinde.,Los selk'nam 1982. vol I, Tomo primero. Chapter 4 pp:211)


Other references:

John M Cooper The Ona .(now selk'nam), page: 112 (Ornaments)
The Yahgan(now Yamana) , page: 87

in Handbook of South American Indians., Volume 1 The Marginal Tribes
editor:Julian H. Steward. Smithsonian Institution., Bureau of American
Ethnology, Bulletin 143. New York.,1963


Bridges ,E.Lucas "THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH"
1951 Hodder&Stoughton, London



Hope that helps you on your investigation, if you need further
references, please let me know.





Regards


Carlos G. Ocampo








Carlos Ocampo Ercilla
Departamento de Antropologia
Universidad de Chile
e-mail:csarq@abello.seci.uchile.cl

snail-mail:
Campus J. Gomez Millas
Ignacio Carrera Pinto 2245
Santiago
CHILE