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The Unkindest Cut The article, “The Unkindest Cut, or Who Invented Scalping” discusses the controversy surrounding the question of who did indeed invent scalping, white Europeans or Native Americans. A popular belief throughout American history is that scalping was introduced by Native Americans who scalped white Europeans trying to seize their native land. Axtell explains that in recent years a new theory of the evolution of scalping has become quite popular. This theory holds that white Europeans, not Native Americans, first introduced scalping in the New World. This article does a superb job of implementing various kinds of evidence in debating which of these two theories is most likely true, and shifting through different perspectives to make his arguement. To being with, the evidence which bases the argument for whites initiating scalping is presented. This evidence attempts to back up the argument Native Americans first learned of scalping when white Europeans offered bounties on hea