Georgia’s Four Georgia’s Four Prehistoric PeriodsPrehistoric Periods

BackgroundBackground

During the Ice Age, the seas were as much as During the Ice Age, the seas were as much as 300 feet below what they are now. This 300 feet below what they are now. This exposed large areas of land that today are exposed large areas of land that today are under water.under water.

Around 12,000 B.C., small groups of hunters Around 12,000 B.C., small groups of hunters walked across a “land bridge” from modern-walked across a “land bridge” from modern-day Siberia to what is now Alaskaday Siberia to what is now Alaska..

Scientists feel that the original group of Scientists feel that the original group of nomads nomads contained fewer than 25 peoplecontained fewer than 25 people . . Some scientists think it was less than that. Some scientists think it was less than that. (Think about it – fewer than 25 people are (Think about it – fewer than 25 people are responsible for all of the Native Americans in responsible for all of the Native Americans in both North and South America!)both North and South America!)

Georgia’s prehistoric inhabitantsGeorgia’s prehistoric inhabitants By approximately 10,000 B.C., groups of By approximately 10,000 B.C., groups of

nomadic humans had migrated to what is now nomadic humans had migrated to what is now the Southeastern United Statesthe Southeastern United States..

From 10,000 B.C. until around 1600 A.D. From 10,000 B.C. until around 1600 A.D. these people and their descendants developed these people and their descendants developed 4 unique cultural periods, or 4 unique cultural periods, or traditions.traditions. Paleo-Indian Period (10,000 to 8,000 B.C.)Paleo-Indian Period (10,000 to 8,000 B.C.) Archaic Period (8,000 to 1,000 B.C.)Archaic Period (8,000 to 1,000 B.C.) Woodland Period (1,000 B.C. to 1,000 A.D.)Woodland Period (1,000 B.C. to 1,000 A.D.) Mississippian Period (1,000 A.D. to 1600 A.D.)Mississippian Period (1,000 A.D. to 1600 A.D.)

First humans in North AmericaFirst humans in North America

The Paleo-Indian PeriodThe Paleo-Indian Period Lived in small or groups of Lived in small or groups of

two or three familiestwo or three families They They moved from place to moved from place to

placeplace in search of and in search of and following food.following food.

They lived in They lived in temporary temporary sheltersshelters made of skins of made of skins of animals, pits, and caves, animals, pits, and caves, but but not in permanent not in permanent sheltersshelters

The men hunted small game and large, Ice-Age animals such as the Giant Bison, Giant Sloth, Mastadon, and other extinct mammals.

The women usually gathered plant foods such as nuts, wild plums, grapes, blackberries

and other types of berries which were abundant in the summer and early fall.

FoodFood Berries, wild fruit/ vegetables such as plums, Berries, wild fruit/ vegetables such as plums,

blackberries, grapesblackberries, grapes Primarily hunted large mammals such as Primarily hunted large mammals such as

Bison, mastodon, giant slothBison, mastodon, giant sloth Also hunted some small mammals Also hunted some small mammals (coyote, bear, (coyote, bear,

rabbit)rabbit)

In the early part of the Paleo period, they In the early part of the Paleo period, they hunted their prey with spears and other simple hunted their prey with spears and other simple tools. Some developed and attached tools. Some developed and attached Clovis Clovis pointspoints to the spears. Clovis points are large to the spears. Clovis points are large points, some being as large as your hand.points, some being as large as your hand.

Clovis points were attached to heavy spears that Clovis points were attached to heavy spears that were jabbed into the animal or thrown only a few were jabbed into the animal or thrown only a few feet. Either method required the hunter to get close feet. Either method required the hunter to get close to his prey, which was extremely dangerous. to his prey, which was extremely dangerous. Archaeological evidence shows that many male Archaeological evidence shows that many male Paleo-Indians suffered broken bones and other Paleo-Indians suffered broken bones and other lifelong injuries.lifelong injuries.

Primitive atlatls helped the Paleo-indians kill smaller Primitive atlatls helped the Paleo-indians kill smaller game that was difficult to get close to.game that was difficult to get close to.

There is evidence that There is evidence that the Paleo-Indians had the Paleo-Indians had religious beliefs. religious beliefs. Graves have been found Graves have been found in which the dead were in which the dead were sprinkled with a red sprinkled with a red powdered mineral powdered mineral (ochre) and flowers (ochre) and flowers placed on their bodiesplaced on their bodies. . Some people suggest Some people suggest that they that they believed in believed in some form of afterlifesome form of afterlife..

The Paleo PeriodThe Paleo Period DatesDates

10,000-8,000 B.C.10,000-8,000 B.C. WeaponsWeapons

““Clovis”Clovis” points points Stone spear points Stone spear points

Knives and scrapersKnives and scrapers AtlatlAtlatl – used to propel spears long – used to propel spears long

distances distances FoodFood

Large game hunted animals Large game hunted animals Mammoths, bisons, ground Mammoths, bisons, ground

sloths, and mastadons sloths, and mastadons Wild berries and nuts gatheredWild berries and nuts gathered

DwellingsDwellings Lived in groups of 25-50 Lived in groups of 25-50 Nomadic = always on the Nomadic = always on the

move for food = no move for food = no permanent housingpermanent housing

Slept in caves, under Slept in caves, under cliffs, and dug out cliffs, and dug out “sleeping pits”“sleeping pits”

ReligionReligion Artifacts to suggest Artifacts to suggest

general spirituality – red general spirituality – red powder, flowerspowder, flowers

Paleo = “Very old” / few lived to be 30 yrs. old

Archaic PeriodArchaic Period As the Ice Age ended and the weather became As the Ice Age ended and the weather became

warmer, life began changing for the prehistoric warmer, life began changing for the prehistoric Indians of our area.Indians of our area.

Scientists have divided the Archaic Period into three Scientists have divided the Archaic Period into three distinct time spans:distinct time spans:

Early Archaic (8,000 B.C. to 5,000B.C)Early Archaic (8,000 B.C. to 5,000B.C) Middle Archaic (5,000 B.C. to 4,000 B.C.)Middle Archaic (5,000 B.C. to 4,000 B.C.) Late Archaic (4,000 B.C. to 1,000 B.C.)Late Archaic (4,000 B.C. to 1,000 B.C.)

Archaic Archaic

8,000-1,000 B.C.8,000-1,000 B.C.

In general, Indians of the Archaic Period In general, Indians of the Archaic Period worked worked and lived in larger groups and stayed in place longer and lived in larger groups and stayed in place longer than the Paleo-Indians did.than the Paleo-Indians did.

In the Early Archaic period, groups of Indians In the Early Archaic period, groups of Indians continued to follow their food sources. continued to follow their food sources.

The AtlatlThe Atlatl One weapon used during the Archaic period was the

atlatl, or spear thrower. The atlatl allowed the hunter to throw a light spear (called a dart) very far with a great amount of force.

Archaic peoples turned from big-game hunting to the forest mammals like the white-tailed deer as well as to nuts and plant foods. They hunted turkeys and passenger pigeons, collected box turtles each spring, and freshwater fish and mussels were added to the diet.

By the Middle Archaic period, the area grew warm and dry. As a result, rivers and the water along the coasts receded, making it easier to gather oysters, mussels and other shellfish for food.

FoodFood

Smaller game such as deer, bear, rabbitSmaller game such as deer, bear, rabbit BerriesBerries Fish, oysters, shellfish, reptilesFish, oysters, shellfish, reptiles

Some evidence of this is the presence of middens. Middens are piles of shells that accumulated over time as families of Indians tossed their throw-away oyster and clam shells in the same pile.

DwellingsDwellings

Semi-permanent structureSemi-permanent structure Evidence of semi-permanence – middens Evidence of semi-permanence – middens

(garbage mounds made from discarded shells) (garbage mounds made from discarded shells) – This suggests a return to the same area year – This suggests a return to the same area year after yearafter year

A common tool of the Late Archaic period was A common tool of the Late Archaic period was the grooved axe. The the grooved axe. The grooved axegrooved axe shows shows archaeologistsarchaeologists that Late Archaic Indians cut that Late Archaic Indians cut down tress and probably down tress and probably cleared landcleared land around around their camp sites.their camp sites.

Tools & WeaponsTools & Weapons

Spears with Atlatl (spear thrower)Spears with Atlatl (spear thrower) Knives, axesKnives, axes Pottery comes into usePottery comes into use

Archaic Indians’ Archaic Indians’ shelters were made of animal skins and shelters were made of animal skins and wood, or woven stickswood, or woven sticks, but they were not permanent homes. , but they were not permanent homes. At the most, they served as part of a temporary base camp. At the most, they served as part of a temporary base camp.

PotteryPottery

In the Early Archaic period, Indians began carving In the Early Archaic period, Indians began carving bowls from solid rock.bowls from solid rock.

By the Late Archaic, some groups had By the Late Archaic, some groups had discovered that containers could be made from discovered that containers could be made from clay.clay.

What would be a benefit of having clay pots?What would be a benefit of having clay pots? What would be a drawback?What would be a drawback?

The Atlatl develops furtherThe Atlatl develops further The atlatl is one weapon that was used for almost

30,000 years. (We have been using guns for less than 600 years!)

During the Archaic period atlatl technology improved and it became the primary weapon of the Archaic indians.

How it worksHow it works The dart of an atlatl is usually a long piece of The dart of an atlatl is usually a long piece of

river cane or soft wood. When it is thrown, river cane or soft wood. When it is thrown, the dart “bends” and springs off the atlatl with the dart “bends” and springs off the atlatl with tremendous force.tremendous force.

Modern experiments show that an atlatl can help throw a dart over 800 feet, or at short ranges with a force strong enough to go through a 50-gallon drum!

Why do you think the Archaic Indians started using a weapon that could be thrown a long distance?

Hint: What kind of animals did they hunt?

Archaeological evidence shows that the Archaic Archaeological evidence shows that the Archaic Indians Indians buried their dead with weapons, tools, and buried their dead with weapons, tools, and objects from everyday lifeobjects from everyday life. Does this suggest that . Does this suggest that they believed in an afterlife? they believed in an afterlife?

Snapshots of Archaic-Indian LifeSnapshots of Archaic-Indian Life

The Archaic PeriodThe Archaic Period

DatesDates 8,000 – 1,000 B.C.8,000 – 1,000 B.C.

WeaponsWeapons AtlatlAtlatl New tools invented to save time and effortNew tools invented to save time and effort spear points become smaller and sharperspear points become smaller and sharper Grooved AxeGrooved Axe – stone head w/ wood handle. – stone head w/ wood handle.

Used primarily to chop wood / remove brushUsed primarily to chop wood / remove brush FoodFood

Hunted smaller game as period progresses Hunted smaller game as period progresses Deer, bear, turkey, rabbit, birds, fish Deer, bear, turkey, rabbit, birds, fish

Fishing and gathering importantFishing and gathering important Large remains of Large remains of middensmiddens (trash heaps of (trash heaps of

shells ) found on Stallings Island in GA shells ) found on Stallings Island in GA Clay potsClay pots to store and transport food in to store and transport food in

created--POTTERYcreated--POTTERY

DwellingsDwellings Small groups gathered to Small groups gathered to

form larger groups of 50-100 form larger groups of 50-100 Would move from season to Would move from season to

season season Semi-permanent housing w/ Semi-permanent housing w/

wooden poles covered by wooden poles covered by animal hides, branches, and animal hides, branches, and barkbark

ReligionReligion Proper burial of the dead Proper burial of the dead

seems to be importantseems to be important Tools, weapons, and Tools, weapons, and

ornaments found in tombsornaments found in tombs

Things becoming more settled

Snapshots of Archaic-Indian LifeSnapshots of Archaic-Indian Life

Sapelo Island:

http://www.lostworlds.org/sapelo_shell_rings.html

Stallings Island:Stallings Island, a National Historic Landmark site, was a major settlement of Late Archaic Native Americans from 4,500

to 3,500 years ago.

Located in the Savannah River eight miles upstream from Augusta, the sixteen-acre island is the namesake of Stallings Culture and its hallmark pottery, Stallings fiber-tempered wares, the oldest pottery in North America.