Before
the introduction of the horse to North America the Native Americans
used a form of transportation called walking and running. Running was
perfected as an important part of the culture, a system for
communication, a means of gallop hunting, and as sports and play.
The
Tarahumara or the Indians of Barranca de Cobre, the Copper Canyon,
inthe
Chihuahua state
of northern Mexico are proof that humans have the potential and
ability to use their own bodies for transportation. The word
“Raramuri” means “runners on foot” or “those who run fast”
(www.britannica.com).
The Tarahumara have developed a cultural tradition of long-distance
running. They can run up to 200 miles and can run the distance
of 435 miles, the distance from New York to Cleveland in 48 hours or
two days. The Tarahumara are a modern day proof that Native
Americans have the athletic ability to create a form of
transportation that was superior and perfect to their culture and
existence.
The
Anasazi of the Ancient Colorado Plateau also used running as a form
of transportation. They used long distance running as the same
reasons as the Tarahumara. It was for communication, culture,
hunting, and for athletic play and competition. Even the
diet of
corn for carbohydrates to sustain this type of transportation can be
proved by looking at the diet of the Tarahumara. They drink a type of
corn beer that is super high in carbohydrates but very low in alcohol
content. The man carbohydrate in the diet of the Anasazi was corn and
they could have also made this type of beverage for running. Hunting
was also the same. The runner was able to get the animal to a gallop
for a long distance. Then the animal gets tired and because it
can not pant can not cool its self and gets tired, but the runner is
able to out run the animal and then can kill the animal for food.
Transportation before the horse was human transportation, but a super athlete human that was capable of running long distances in bare feet or primitive sandals.
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