EARLY CULTURES
What was the Influence of Native Americans on
the History and Development of Georgia?
From Where Did They Come ?
◦ Where did the people
to be called “Native
Americans” come
from?
◦ Scientists believe that
they came from Asia
and crossed the Bering
Straits during the last
ice age. Massive
glaciers removed so
much water from the
seas that a “land
bridge” between the
Asian and North
American continents
appeared.
www.americanindian.net/ links7.html
Prehistoric Indians of Georgia
There were four time periods of Indian life
in prehistoric Georgia:
◦ Paleo Period – 10,000 BC to 8000 BC
◦ Archaic Period – 8000 BC to 1000 BC
◦ Woodland Period – 1000 BC to 1000 AD
◦ Mississippian Period – 1000 to 1600 AD
Paleo Indians
10,000 B.C. to 8000 B. C.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/ssteller.htm
Weapons of the Paleo Indians
◦ Made from antlers and rocks
◦ Knives, spearheads, and axes
◦ Used cane or tree trunks for shafts
◦ Clovis Points were the earliest known
spear points of the Paleo Indians
Clovis Point
◦ These points were
made from flint rocks
using a technique
called ‘flint
knapping’.
◦ Clovis point found at
Ocmulgee site in
Georgia
http://www.stlcc.edu/fv/users/mfuller/martens/Pottery.html
Clovis Spear Points
◦ These are other examples
of Clovis Points.
◦ Notice that the back of
several are plain.
◦ Later Paleo Indians
began to notch the ends
of the points to better tie
them to their spears.
http://www.150.si.edu/150trav/remember/r112a.htm
Paleo Food Sources
◦ Primarily ate fruit and berries
◦ Hunted large game such as the
mammoth, the mastodon, giant bison,
giant sloths, and other large mammals.
◦ They hunted in groups and had to get very
close to their game in order to kill it (they
were using spears, see picture on page
43).
Wooly Mammoths
◦ Over 9 feet tall at the
shoulder
◦ Over 15 feet long
from tusk to tail
◦ The longest tusks
found were over 17
feet in length.
◦ Heavier than the
mastodons.
http://www.unmuseum.org/mastodon.htm
Mastodon
◦ Stood from 6 to 9 feet
tall at the shoulder.
◦ Were up to 15 feet
long from tusk to tail.
◦ Weighed from 4 to 6
tons.
◦ Evolved from the
wooly mammoth.
http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/larson/mammut.html
Paleo Indians Attacking a
Mammoth
◦ Mammoths could weight 8,000
to 10,000 pounds.
◦ The spears used by the Paleo
Indians were crude weapons,
the men had to get very close
to their game to kill it. They risk
injury or death trying to kill one
of these beasts.
◦ If injured, there were no
doctors or hospitals.
http://www.crt.state.la.us/crt/ocd/arch/laprehis/paleo.htm
Ground Sloth
◦ The giant sloths weighed
about 100 pounds.
◦ They became extinct
about 10,000 years ago.
◦ Hunting pressure and
environmental changes
due to climate changes.
http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/larson/sloth.html
Giant Bison
◦ They were about twice as
big as our modern day
buffalo.
◦ Their horns could be
seven feet from tip to tip
(modern buffalo will
reach about 2 feet).
◦ They may have weighed
as much as 4,000 pounds.
http://www.sd4history.com/Unit1/giantbison.htm
Shelter of the Paleo Indians
◦ Paleo Indians were
nomadic, they moved
from place to place,
following animals they
killed for food.
◦ They did not build
permanent houses, but
rather lived in shallow
pits, rock shelters, or
crude shelters covered
with animal skins or tree
bark.
http://www.cabrillo.cc.ca.us/~crsmith/anth7_paleo.html
Religion and the Paleo Indian
◦ There is only limited evidence of religious
practices of the Paleo Indians living in
Georgia.
◦ Two skeletons were found buried with several
artifacts and covered with a red powder.
◦ This suggested that they practiced some form
of burial ceremony.
Lifestyle of the Paleo Indians
◦ They lived in small family groups, usually no more
than 20 to 30 people per group.
◦ The family groups were small because they could not
get enough food (animals they killed plus nuts and
berries they gathered) to support larger numbers.
◦ They usually only lived to be 30 to 40 years old due to
disease and accidental death (for example - being
stepped on by a mastodon).
LIVED DURING THE END OF THE ICE AGE
Prehistoric Indians of Georgia
There were four time periods of Indian life
in prehistoric Georgia:
◦ Paleo Period – 10,000 BC to 8000 BC
◦ Archaic Period – 8000 BC to 1000 BC
◦ Woodland Period – 1000 BC to 1000 AD
◦ Mississippian Period – 1000 to 1600 AD
Archaic Period Indians
8000 B.C. to 1000 B.C.
◦ FIRST CULTURE OF GEORGIA
◦ About 7000 B.C. the climate began to
change. Large mammals such as the
mammoth, mastodon, giant sloth, and giant
bison died out.
◦ A new tradition of Native Americans, known
as the Archaic Indians adapted to the
warming climate of Georgia.
Archaic Weapons and Tools
◦ Archaic points were more
defined and often had a
barb on the end. This
helped hold the point on
the spear shaft.
◦ The stone axe was not
just used as a weapon
but also used to cut down
trees, hollow out holes for
storage, etc.
http://www.crt.state.la.us/crt/ocd/arch/laprehis/paleo.htm
Weapons/Hunting Tools, Archaic
Period
◦ The atlatl became the
weapon of choice for the
Archaic Period Indians.
◦ They still used spears to kill
their game, but since the
large mammals had
disappeared, the spear
was not as effective as a
hunting tool.
Atlatl (pronounced – (at/lat/l)
◦ An atlatl was a stick
about two feet long
with a notch on the
back.
◦ It would throw a
spear about six feet
long.
http://www.crt.state.la.us/crt/ocd/arch/laprehis/paleo.htm
Animals Hunted by Archaic
Indians
www.bearbiology.com/bbdesc.html
http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/animals/raccoon.htm
http://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/turkey/turkey.htm
http://www.bowhunting.net/Scouting/default.htm
Lifestyle of the Archaic Indians
◦ Small villages of people
living together was
possible because they
used more variety in their
diet, eating more
vegetables.
◦ They also ate shellfish
and used barbed hooks
to catch fish.
◦ Grinding stones and large
storage pits for food were
common.
http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Cyberia/RiverWeb/History/Cahokia/archaic/settle.html
Archaic Indian Pottery
◦ The first use of pottery
was found at the end of
the Archaic Period.
◦ Pottery allowed the
people to store food,
cook with oils, and water.
◦ Primitive markings and
symbols were used to
decorate the outside of
some pottery pieces.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/outline/04- /
Evidence of Religion – Archaic
Indians
◦ There is evidence that the Archaic Indians believed in life after
death.
◦ They buried tools, weapons, body ornaments and food with the
dead person.
Lifestyles of the Archaic
Indians
◦ They were the first to make
fiber tempered pottery.
◦ There is evidence that they
were primitive mound
builders.
◦ There is evidence that they
traded with other native
peoples
◦ Traded bowls for utensils
and tools
◦ They moved in limited
areas, often spending a
lifetime within a small area.
◦ They invented new ways of
hunting and fishing, using
barbed fishhooks and fish
traps.
◦ Lived in rock shelters and
pithouses
Prehistoric Indians of Georgia
There were four time periods of Indian life
in prehistoric Georgia:
◦ Paleo Period – 10,000 BC to 8000 BC
◦ Archaic Period – 8000 BC to 1000 BC
◦ Woodland Period – 1000 BC to 1000 AD
◦ Mississippian Period – 1000 to 1600 AD
Woodland/Mississippian Foods
•http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/woodland.htm
http://www.funnytummy.com/posters_asst_vegetables.html
http://free-stock-photos.com/food/beans.html
Woodland Period Shelter
◦ Sometimes referred to as
“longhouses” these were
often permanent
locations.
◦ Covered with tree bark or
often animal skins.
◦ In the later part of the
period they also used
“wattle and daub”
constructed houses.
◦ Wattle and daub houses
were constructed from
interwoven sticks and
twigs and covered with
mud and allowed to dry.
http://www.germantown.k12.il.us/html/homes.html
Lifestyle of the Woodland
Woodland Indians
began to build
permanent settlements
a long stream valleys
BUILT PROTECTIVE
WALLS AROUND
VILLAGES AND
STORAGE FACILITIES
DEVELOPED
AGRICULTURE maize
(corn) and squash/
gourds would harvest
grains, beans,
Stored foods for winter
and earlyhttp://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Cyberia/RiverWeb/History/Cahokia/woodland/settle.html
spring
Woodland Period Pottery
◦ The early Woodland
pottery had markings
and designs which
varied from area to
area
http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Cyberia/RiverWeb/History/Cahokia/woodland/tech.html
Woodland Hunting
◦ The Woodland
Indians developed
the bow and arrow.
◦ It replaced the spear
and atlatl as the
primary hunting
weapon.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/outline/04-woodland/
WOODLAND MOUNDS
◦Best know structures left by
Woodland Indians were mounds
◦Contain skeletons, jewelry, pottery,
beads
◦Several mounds in Georgia:
◦Kolomoki Mounds
◦Rock Eagle
Kolomoki Mound
◦ Burial Mound at
Kolomoki
The largest burial
mound at Kolomoki
Mounds is seen here 56
foot high Temple
Mound.
Rock Eagle
◦ Rock Eagle effigy
mound is the next
oldest Indian mound
site in Georgia after
the Sapelo Shell Ring
Complex. This Indian
mound is an effigy in
the shape of a bird
with its wings spread.
It is believed to have
been constructed by
a Native American
group around 2,000
years ago
Mounds and Indian Religious
Beliefs
◦ Both Woodland Indians
and Mississippian Indians
believed in life after
death.
◦ This was demonstrated by
the great mounds they
built.
http://roadsidegeorgia.com/site/rock_eagle.html
◦ The effigy mound at Rock
Eagle and the seven
mounds built near the
present city of Cartersville
are examples of their
skills.
http://ngeorgia.com/history/early.html
Prehistoric Indians of Georgia
There were four time periods of Indian life
in prehistoric Georgia:
◦ Paleo Period – 10,000 BC to 8000 BC
◦ Archaic Period – 8000 BC to 1000 BC
◦ Woodland Period – 1000 BC to 1000 AD
◦ Mississippian Period – 1000 to 1600 AD
COMPLEX CULTURE
DEVELOPED CIVILIZATION
had political, social, religious structures
◦ 1. cities were centers of trade
◦ 2. specialized jobs for different people
◦ 3. organized forms of government and
religion
◦ 4. system of record keeping
◦ 5. advanced tools
◦ Mississippian Indians became
permanent residents of the
areas due to improved
agriculture:
HORTICULTURALISTS
◦ Warm climate and longer
growing seasons made
permanent settlements
possible.
◦ Villages often surrounded by
wooden palisade and a moat
on the outside.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/outline/05-mississippian/index.htm
Foods
Tools
◦ Deer
◦ Stone axes
◦ Turkeys
◦ Digging sticks
◦ Small animals
◦ Fire
◦ Shellfish
◦ Fish
◦ turtles
◦ Corn
◦ Beans
◦ Squash
◦ Sunflowers
◦ Nuts
◦ fruits
Weapons
Spears
Bow and Arrows
Atlatl
Mississippian Period Warrior
◦ The Mississippian warrior presented
a very interesting figure.
◦ Notice the tattoos on his body,
meant to scare his opponents.
◦ The bow and arrow became the
weapon of choice, it was
accurate and could kill at great
distances.
◦ The warrior would carry 15 to 20
arrows in a quaver on his back.
◦ He could fire about 4 to 5 arrows
per minute in a battle situation.
Mississippian Mounds & Villages
◦ The Mississippian Period
Indians were prolific
mound builders.
◦ The mounds were
generally used for
worship or for an
elevated area for the
chief-priest to live on.
◦ Towns had flat-topped
temple mounds with
ceremonial buildings/
public structures on top
http://www.mississippian-artifacts.com/html/main.html
◦ Mounds stood as tall as 100 feet
◦ Were built in stages/over a century or more
◦ Various shapes/most rectangular
◦ Purposes:
◦
◦
◦
◦
Platforms for buildings
Stages for religious activities
Stages for social activities
cemeteries
◦ --------------------------------------------------------------------◦ Plaza in center of town- religious and social
gathering place
◦ Houses were built around Plaza in courtyards that
served the households of several related
households
◦ Spent most of their lives outdoors
◦ Houses- shelters from inclement weather
◦ Rectangular or circular pole structures
◦ Walls- weaving saplings and cane around
poles
◦ Sun-baked clay (daub)
◦ Roofs- thatched – small hole for smoke to
escape
Travels and Contacts
◦ Buildings resemble
those found in Mexico
and Guatemala
◦ Mississippian had to
have traveled
◦ Some crops were
brought back from
Central America and
introduced into their
agriculture
Lifestyle
◦ Commoners
◦ Hard labor
◦ Grew the food
◦ Made crafts
◦ Served as warriors
◦ Laborers for public work projects
◦ Elite
◦ Higher social standing
◦ Chiefs/family were descended from
the sun- important god and they
could influence the supernatural
world / giving them the ability to
influence rising of the sun, spring
rains, fall harvest
◦ -Received special treatment
◦ Larger houses
◦ Special clothing and food
◦ Exempt from hard work
Mississippian Period Pottery
◦ The Mississippian
Indians made
beautiful pottery and
ceremonial and
decorative pieces.
◦ They not only drew
intricate figures but
also used coloring
such as ochre
colored clays to
decorate them.
http://ngeorgia.com/history/early.html
Art
◦ Some of the most impressive
achievements of the Mississippian people
are the finely crafted objects made of
stone, marine shell, pottery, and native
copper.
◦ Created: decorative collar pieces, cups,
pendants, and beads made of marine
shells/many with elaborate designs
One of the Etowah Mounds
Found at Cartersville, Georgia
http://ngeorgia.com/parks/etowah.html
End of the Mississippian Era
◦ Indians that Hernando de Soto
encountered when he began to explore
Georgia in 1540. FIRST GROUP TO BE
DEVASTATED BY VIOLENCE & INFECTIOUS
DISEASES BROUGHT BY EUROPEANS
(measles, tuberculosis, smallpox)
◦ Survivors became the Creek and
Cherokee Indian tribes- played such an
influential role in development of Georgia
history.