The Wichita Indians of Texas

• Wichita - Curtis Collection
• The Wichita Indians
• Handbook of Texas - Wichita Indians
• Wichita and Affiliated Tribes - Tribal Home Page
• To Outline of Class Discussion

Introduction:
In North Central Texas including DFW area, apparently well populated in late prehistoric period

1. Today, several active sites under investigation
2. Bird Point Island near Corsicana, 1100-1200, thatched structures, diversity of diet but no corn found leading to conclude not farmers
3. Cobb-Pool Site at Lake Joe Pool

   42 archaeological and historical sites in vicinity
   Study conducted by SMU
   Small, briefly occupied camps of hunter/gatherers; several larger reoccupied camps and small prehistoric village
   Pottery fragments dated to 900-1000 CE (AD)
   Also middens, earth pit, platforms for food drying and storage, bone fragments, mussel shells, flint flakes, flint knife, charred seeds
   Show Caddo traits

1. Like others in area, was a confederation that included Wichita, Waca, Tawakonis, Taovayas, Tawehas, Yscani, and Kichai
2. All spoke Wichita language except Kichai who had own language
3. Wichita, a Caddoan language (three plains Caddoan languages - Wichita, Pawnee, Kichai)
4. Also used bois d'arc bow; lived in thatched dome houses using cedar
5. Established traders, superior farmers, Caddo influenced pottery
6. Many tattoos - called selves "raccoon-eyed people" because of tattooing (George Catlin painted in 1834)
7. At same time, different that Caddo

   Less bureaucratic - just chief, subchief and shaman
   Taboo on eating fish
   Moved more - migrated in winter to find bison and then used tepees; considered semi-sedentary
   Women wore long dresses from chin to ankles
   Perhaps more warlike but did "count coup" although killing (stabbing) brought prestige
   These traits more like Plains Indians and allied with Comanche; enraged settlers with raiding