Where did the Indians come from? Did the first Indians live in caves like cavemen? What is the difference between Paleo and Archaic, and Archaic and Woodland? When did bows begin and atl-atls stop? What did the land look like 10,000 years ago? Were there tribes back then? What happened to the big civilizations like Cahokia? When did metal start being used?
The thing I love the most about prehistory is the fact that it is pre–history. It is the time before all things were written down. This allows us to ponder and theorize – to hypothesize and surmise. To seek evidence and knowledge to fill in the missing pieces of a puzzle that no one really knows what the resulting total picture may be.
I went to bed this evening thinking about a phone conversation I had with a new artifact collector who was asking tons of questions about ancient America and the first people to arrive here. Throughout our hour long conversation, I smiled. It so reminded me of …. Me. I remember me 20 some years ago after I found my first arrowhead in a field while hunting, and the bazillion questions that I tried to find answers to from that point forward about America’s ancient past. As our conversation came to a close, the collector on the other end thanked me for my time, and told me that while many of his questions were answered, each answer seemed to make him think of more questions and we could probably talk for hours more. Again, I smiled. Like most all collectors I have ever met, there is nothing more enjoyable than “talking rocks” – and while talking rocks does answer questions, it sure does seem like most times the answers do make collectors think of more questions that relate to the answers.
I have written in more than one book that I find the ability to envision the past the key to what drives some people to collect relics, and others to have little interest. Holding a relic in the hand and thinking about those who used it is diferentiating factor. But what really did go on way back then? What did it look like? What did ancient man do all day long? Having a basic understanding of the time periods that led up to the North America that we know now sure does help one understand, and appreciate the artifact we all so love to collect.
Time periods on all continents are somewhat different. Human occupation on each continent did have a starting point – that being the arrival of the first people to populate it. Those people left behind artifacts and other traces of their presence, and some of that evidence can be tested and dated. Those dates then become the basis for knowing how long areas have been occupied, what food were eaten, how those people lived and many times, approximately how many people there were at that time. That starting point in North America is still being investigated as new sites are excavated by Archaeologists, but the information thus far recorded puts man on North America around 17,000 years ago.
The starting point for human occupation in North America begins during the last major glacial period known as the Wisconsin Glaciation Episode. Much of North America was covered by ice sheets during the Late Wisconsin Glaciation. During this period, around 30,000 years ago the ice sheets were building, and around 20,000 years ago the water used in these ice sheets caused a drop in the oceans levels enough to create a land bridge in the Bering sea. This land bridge is called Beringia. It is believed by many that the first humans to occupy N. America came across this land bridge.
While this is possible, it is still jut a theory. It is also believed with new evidence coming forward that man may have also traveled by light boat down the western coast. Still another theory has man coming across to the east coast by light boat.
Whichever route was used, or possibly all the routes may have been used at different points and to some degree, the end result was that man did arrive and began populating our continent.
This was the beginning of the Paleo Period.
The prehistoric times in North America are divided into Periods. Those periods are then further divided into phases and complexes, but knowing the general time periods is usually enough to get a good start. What ends one period and begins another is a major change in lifeways or technology. Generally, the technology would affect the lifeway, thus really they are one in the same. Examples would be the beginning of farming, the making of pottery, permanent structures and societal evolution.
Paleo Period – this is the oldest
Archaic Period – this is one of the longest
Woodland Period – This has organized societies
Mississippian Period – The height of Pottery making and farming
Historic – after Europeans arrived
Paleo Period 17,000 BC – 7,500 BC
It is possible that the Paleo period began much earlier, and I personally think as new evidence is found in years to come the beginning date will be found to have been much earlier. However, the above date is a good reference point for the solid evidence that has been recorded thus far.
The Paleo people came to this continent walking upright. While I am sure by today’s standards, they probably needed haircuts and a good shave, I doubt they looked like the stereotypical cavemen that are seen in the Gieco commercials. Paleo Indians were known to be nomadic, and followed the huge herds of animals that were their staple diet. With the exception of the Paleo Crossing site here in Ohio, Paleo camp sites do not have evidence of post holes, and thus their use of permanent type dwellings in a village setting has never been established. It is therefore believed that Paleo Indians traveled in small bands or clans, normally staying close to rivers and major water sources.
Paleo Indians used thrusting spears, and at some point during the Paleo period, the atl-atl was believed to have been invented. The Atl-atl is a hand held spear thrower that acts as an extension of the arm allowing man to throw his spears with more distance and impact power.
I am sure that the Paleo people hunted smaller game such as elk, deer and turkey – but they are best known for being the only Indians to hunt the megafauna – the large extinct animals such as wooly mammoths. By the end of the Paleo period, the age of the large mammals had come to a close with their final extinction.
Archaic period – 7,500 BC – 1,500 BC
The archaic is a long time periods, and is often divided into Early, Middle and Late Archaic.
The Archaic period is the era of the hunters and gatherers. So what makes it so different from the Paleo that it gets to be its own period? In a nutshell, more permanent camps. At some point as the population continued to grow and with the large mammals now extinct, man began to settle down a bit. More permanent camps were established, and along with hunting the local area around the camps, man began to gather and store food items such as nuts, seeds and roots. I believe these camps would be used until the game in the area became harder to find or the water source became tainted, at which point the village would be moved.
The predominate weapon during this period was the atl-atl and remained so throughout the entire Archaic period.
Often collectors will hear the term “Transitional Paleo”. This is used when describing some items that were believed to have been manufactured between 6,000 or so BC and 7,500 or so BC. As the time periods are general in nature, there was no doubt a transitional period.
Woodland Period – 1.500 BC – 1,000 AD
By the arrival of the Woodland Period, man was flourishing in North America. Most all of the areas of the continent show evidence of mans presence, and he was settled down into growing villages and was beginning to learn about farming and domesticating plants, and the technology of pottery making began. At some point during this period the bow and arrow was believed to have been invented, although the Atl-atl was still a well used weapon.
The Woodland Period was also the beginning of higher degrees of governmental societies where huge mounds were built by the Adena and the Hopewell people. Such large scale tasks would require a higher level of structured government.
Mississippian Period – 1000 AD – 1500 AD
By now America was filling quickly with people. The huge city of Cahokia which covered over 5 square miles was built and the pottery craft was at its peak. Pottery was tempered with shell and other materials to make it stronger, and farming was a huge part of the Natives diet.
Soon, Europeans would find America, bringing with them the diseases that Natives could not fight such as smallpox and many other infectious diseases and the population of North America would see a staggering reduction that would end the Mississippian Period, and begin the Historic.