First, I would like to say that the archaeology of North America, and the Americas in general is rife with conflicting theories and prejudice opinions. It is common to see evidence that does not fit the accepted school of thought ignored or some anthropologists not willing to share their work. Another problem is the treatment of American archaeology as an unimportant science, especially here in Missouri. It is not uncommon for us to see unique sites leveled by bulldozers, lost forever, in spite of laws protecting this site. Because of these and other factors American archaeology is often repeating work already done in the past, or publishing theories and guesses when there is evidence and even historical sources that render the guesswork useless and unnecessary. Please note that periods or eras are only approximate and, in many cases, overlapped extensively. They should be viewed as cultural divisions rather than firm time periods. For example although the Woodland period preceded the Mississippian period, they overlapped and both lasted into the 18th century, the woodland period continuing into the 19th century.

Pre-Projectile Point and Paleo Period ? - 8000 B.C.

Just when the first Americans came to the Americas is impossible to say. Estimates range from 4000 B.C. to 40000 B.C. Most Anthropologists choose a date of about 12000 B.C., towards the end of the last ice-age or Pleistocene era, as the time period when the first immigrants crossed the land bridge between Alaska and Siberia. However, new discoveries near the southern tip of South America indicate mans presence there by 12,000 B.C. forcing an earlier migration period to the Americas. During the Ice Age the sea level was some 300 feet below what it is today, creating a minor continent called Beringia. It is believed that the first Americans traveled across this land mass into North America and then diverged to various points thus populating the Americas. There also exists evidence of later migrations from Polynesia as well. This first period of occupation is called the Paleo period, meaning first people. The wide distribution of fluted points and other artifacts suggest a rapid spreading of these peoples. Although they were predominantly a Hunter-gatherer culture, they were well adapted to the climate in which they lived. Their technology allowed them to pursue the mighty mammoth, mastodon, and other elephant species that were present in the Americas during this period. The giant groundsloth, saber tooth cat, camels, and giant cave bear were also present and hunted by these peoples as was the horse. They built small temporary villages as found at the Koster site and in addition to hunting, developed sophisticated methods for fishing. There is also some evidence that they may have practiced a limited amount of agriculture during the very late Paleo period or early archaic. For more info click here.

The Archaic Period: Early, Middle and Late.

The period from about 7000 B.C. to 1000 B.C. is called the Archaic period. During this period the ice-age ended and the landscape began to change abruptly. There has been some recent work done that indicates the climatic changes at the end of the ice-age occurred rapidly rather than slowly. Whatever the case, the Archaic period sees the change in Amerindian culture to accompany these changes. For example, it is during this period that Florida changed from a Savannah environ to mostly as it is today. The glaciers retreated north creating the upper Mississippi River basin and allowing access to new lands that had once been locked in ice. The Archaic peoples began building semi-permanent and even permanent villages. They further developed there hunting and gathering technologies as well as began some agricultural practices. At the Koster site there have been found Sumpweed seeds that indicate domestication during the late Archaic period.

The Woodland Period: Early, Middle and Late.

The Woodland period lasted from around 1000 B.C. to 800 A.D. but in some areas overlapped the Mississippian period into historic times. It was marked by positive agriculture including squash, beans, sunflowers, potatoes, and early maze. These crops were grown in addition to hunting and foraging. However, because it is during this time that villages begin to be plentiful, we may assume that the advent of permanent agriculture prompted the semi-nomadic peoples of this era to begin to stay in one place for extensive periods. traveling hunting groups were still common, but so to was the practice of clearing fields for planting. It is also during this period that pottery and the bow and arrow come into wide spread use. I would submit that the bow readily replaced the atlatal only when the size of the game pursued became smaller. It has been shown that an atlatal or spear-thrower is superior to the bow in power, but that the bow is more accurate and has a longer range. In other words they developed tools to fit their needs. The villages changed during this period too. Palisades or defensive works began to appear. Evidence of extensive trade routes also exists. Trade included various raw materials and pottery among other items that encouraged cultural mixing. Copper becomes common during this period as well and was used for both ornamental items and tools including hatchets and arrow points. It is also during this period that political boundaries become obvious. For more a more detailed discription click here!

The Mississippian Period

The Mississippian period probably began around 1000 A.D. after a "dark ages" of sorts that lasted from 800 to 1000 A.D. Many Anthropologists hold the date to be earlier, but the culture was firmly in place by this time. The culture peaked around 1450 A.D. The Mississippian period or culture lasted well into the 18th century, the Natchez being a prime example, and is marked by the platform mound, extensive trade networks, advanced agriculture and aquaculture. The barrow pits created when dirt was used to make a mound were often flooded and used to raise fish in. The Mississippian cities utilized adobe covered walls as fortifications, canals that often ran around the city allowing access to the market by trade canoes large enough to carry horses, and large-scale maze growing. They built temples and carnal houses on some of their platform mounds, and houses for god-kings on others. Their burial practices consisted of keeping the bodies of the dead in wood coffins for a period of time and then placing many bodies together in a mound for final burial. There economic system was much like ours today. The rulers even controlled the volume and value of their money. They imported items from the Rockies to the Atlantic sea board, and even exotic birds and chocolate from Central America. Some Anthropologists believe that the Mississippian culture was the result of colonization from central Mexico, but this is unlikely. However, that there was contact between these to cultures is widely accepted. The spread of maze ( corn is an English term used generically to denote grain ) would back this theory. The Mississippian culture is by far the high point of Amerindian civilizations in North America and it is their story that is the primary topic of this site. For more info on this era click here!