London, 21 September 2012
“Warriors of the Plains”: 200 years of Native North American honour and ritual is the title of the British Museum’s new exhibition (from 22 September 2012 to 13 January 2013), in partnership with the Royal Albert Memorial Museum. It will be a rare occasion of exploring the fascinating world of the Native Americans, their conception of war and their rituals. The exhibition focuses on Native American culture in the plains of North America from 1800 to nowadays, and on the importance of artefacts in the social and ceremonial context.
Men of these tribes had to belong to “warrior societies” – a social, political and ritual group dedicated to war and organising the ritual life. These societies played a leading role during battles, by allowing their members to win honours by personal actions of bravery such as stealing horses, capturing women and scalping the enemy. These societies, however, had also a ritual life with a strong sense of spirituality. During their ceremonies, the members used objects such as pipes, rattles and headdresses, important in their idea of ritual and honour.
The exhibition will explore the world of these Native Americans through exceptional examples of feather headdresses, shields, moccasins, painted hides, scalps, pipes, tomahawks, and traditional dress. Although many of these items may seem initially familiar to the public, the exhibition uncovers the deeper ritual significance of these iconic objects.