Prehistoric Indians

Georgia’s First People

SS8H1: Students will evaluate the development of Native Americans in Georgia

Paleo Indians10,000 BC – 8,000 BC

Means “very old” or “long ago” in Greek

Paleo-Indians• Originally believed to have lived in Asia and crossed the

land bridge over the Bering Strait into America

• Nomadic: hunter-gatherers, traveled in groups of 20 – 50 people, carrying belongings on their backs

• Followed herds of animals and made camps nearby, primarily hunted mammoths, mastodons, caribou, giant sloths and bison; gathered seeds, fruits and roots

• Were known for inventing spears with stone points to be used on an atlatl

• Because of constant migration the Paleo people frequently dug pits to use as a temporary shelter (dwelling).

• Archaeologists have found two Paleo skeletons buried with artifacts and covered with red powder. Archaeologists believe that this may indicate a belief in an afterlife and/or religious beliefs.

Paleo Indians made pointsout of stone, therefore thistime period was known as“Paleolithic” or Stone Age.

The atlatl was an amazing invention of the Paleo Indians.It allowed for hunters to throwwith accuracy from far away.

Archaic Indians8,000 BC – 1,000 BC

Archaic Indians

• Archaic means “old”

• Three different time spans: early, middle and late

Early Period• 8000 BC – 5000 BC

• Nomadic tribes; hunted smaller game, reptiles, birds and fish; moved each season for food

• Invented useful tools such as choppers, drills and chipping tools from stone made from deer antlers and rock

Middle Period• 5000 BC – 4000 BC

• Climate became dryer, water lines receded

• Began eating shellfish

• Made hooks from animal bones attached to long spears (made getting food easier)

• Did not have to move as much

• Had established camps

Late Period• 4000 BC – 1000 BC

• Made a grooved axe with a stone head and wooden handle (used to clear trees and bushes)

• Saved seeds to plant during next growing season

• Depended on shellfish for most of their food

• Had permanent settlements

• Created pottery that stored, cooked and served food in; used grinding stones to crush nuts as a type of flour as well as hammering nuts to draw out the meat and oils

Pottery was first introduced

Early pottery was air dried, not fired.

Horticulture began in the late Archaic Period

Archaeologists uncovered evidence of circular mounds including burial mounds, artifacts and evidence that the Late Archaic

villages were more permanentBurial of the dead began to become important. Tools, weapons,

and body ornaments have been found in some burial pits.

Woodland Indians1,000 BC – 1,000 AD

Woodland• Continued to seasonally migrate (less movement than the Archaic people) and lived

in tribal villages. These tribes (group of people with a common ancestry) would live and work together. The knowledge of agriculture (horticulture) continued to increase allowing the groups to grow most of what they ate. Woodland people would grow and/or harvest:

– Squash, Beans, Corn (Maize), Sunflowers, Berries, and Nuts

• Woodland people continued to hunt:

– Deer, Bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Reptiles, Game Birds, Fish and Shellfish

• Built domed-shaped huts using trees and other natural materials. The Eastern Woodland people built wattle and daub homes (wooden frame covered with reed mats and plaster).

• Began to use the bow and arrow as the main tool for hunting. Arrow points were frequently made out of stone, shark teeth, and deer antlers.

• Elaborate religious ceremonies were introduced during this time period and were spread through trade amongst the different tribes. Began building cone shaped burial mounds and adorned the body with jewelry. Archaeologists believe that this may indicate a belief in an afterlife and/or religious beliefs.

Mississippian Indians700 AD – 1600 AD

Mississippians• The Mississippian people continued to live in tribes and lived in permanent shelters

and villages. Tribes began to join together during this time period and formed larger nations (allowed for division of labor and increased protection and safety). The knowledge of agriculture (horticulture) continued to increase allowing the groups to grow most of what they ate and began storing extra food to keep a supply for the entire year. Mississippian people would grow and/or harvest:

– Corn (Maize), Beans, Pumpkins and Squash

• Due to the division of labor the Mississippian people had more time to dedicate to the arts (advanced pottery, jewelry, and clothing).

• Continued to improve wattle and daub houses (wood and clay) and began to protect their villages through the use of moats and palisades (wooden walls).

• Improved upon the bow and arrow as the main tool for hunting and for defense. Arrow points were frequently made out of stone, shark teeth, and deer antlers.

• Continued to build burial mounds and religious centers for religious ceremonies and priests/chiefs.

• It is unsure as to what happened to them.

Creek tradition and many anthropologists believe the great Mississippian societies broke off

into smaller tribes after the arrival of Europeans, forming the

Creek Confederacy

What later tribes developed in Georgia?

• Europeans began to record encounters with American Indians; known as the “historic period”

• Creek & Cherokee were the 2 largest tribes in Georgia• True Creek name is Muscogee, were named Creek by

Europeans because they didn’t know their name and found them living by the Ocheese Creek (present-day Ocmulgee River)

• About 22,000 Cherokee lived in the southeastern US during this time; called themselves Awi-yum-wija, meaning “real or principal people”; most closely associated tribe with Georgia