Archaeologically Recovered Ammonites: Evidence for Long= Term Continuity in Nitsitapii Ritual

Abstract

Fossilized ammonites have been repeatedly excavated from cultural contexts, often in association with the Old Women‘s Phase archaeological culture. Archaeologists usually consider the Old Women‘s Phase to represent ancestral Nitsitapii (Blackfoot). The Nitsitapii word for fossilized ammonites is ‘Iniskim‘ or Buffalo Stones. Nitsitapii oral tradition records an ancient origin for the use of Iniskim. Originally, lniskim were used as part of a pre-hunt ritual that produced the power to insure a successful hunt by charming bison. The power associated with Iniskim resulted in their customary inclusion in Nitsitapii personal, healing, sacred tipi, and ceremonial bundles. Although there are examples of other First Nations possessing similar objects, none exhibit as strong a tradition surrounding these items as the Nitsitapii. The repeated association of ammonites with the archaeological material of the Old Women‘s Phase in contexts suggesting bison charming and ceremonial significance, coupled with the evidence for the antiquity and pervasive traditional use of these fossils as Iniskim among the Nitsitapii, is argued to support the Nitsitapii (Blackfoot) - Old Women‘s Phase correlation.