Georgia’s Prehistoric Cultures
What are the characteristics of the Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, and the Mississippian Indian Cultures?
Brainstorming * With a neighbor, quietly discuss the stereotypes of Native Americans and how they been portrayed in American History. Think of movies, cartoons, commercials, books, stories, etc.
Stereotypes of Native Americans
Stereotypes of Native Americans Someone wearing feathers Someone living in a tipi Someone who makes a "whooping" sound Someone to associate with Thanksgiving and the pilgrims People who never waste anything People who respect the land and never harm anything People who are often seen in the wild or portrayed as animals or part of the land Fought like the “brave”
Stereotypes continued Smoked the “peace” pipe – say there was never peace and that narcotics were never in the peace pipe. People who worship nature That every one chose an animal name or had a animal spirit as protector Native are lazy and not motivated Always associated with handcrafts – dream , jewelry, Stereotype that all Indians were the same A lot of the ideas mentioned above are all ideas that are found in Mainstream America.
Things we have heard "Sit like Indians" "You act like a bunch of wild Indians" "I'm dressing like an Indian for Halloween" "You're an Indian giver" "Too many chiefs, not enough Indians“ Have we (American history/society) turned Native groups into simply movie roles and costume ideas?
Brainstorm List 10 items you use everyday!
Break it down-list 5 things you would need everyday to survive.
Do you think your items are the same or different from the Paleo Indians?
Earliest Native Americans Where did they come from? How did they get here? When did they get here?
BERINGIA! At least 10,000-15,000 years ago Land bridge was formed across the Bering Strait; Coined “Beringia” From Asia to North America
Beringia: A narrow strip of land that use to connect Alaska & Russia
Notes Fold notebook paper in half!
Before “Contact” Native Americans Paleo (12,000-8,000 BC) Archaic (8,000 BC-1,000 BC) Woodland (1,000 BC-800 AD) Mississippian (800 AD-1600 AD)
Paleo Indians (12,000-8,000 BC) A. Migratory Patterns: Nomadic hunter gatherers in temporary housing B. Social Structure: Small groups who hunted equally
Paleo Indians C. Tools & Weapons: -”Clovis” point spears, use of the Atlatl (spear throwing device) D. Food: Mammoth Bison Nuts and wild berries Over hunted large animals causing extinction
Archaic Indians (8,000-1,000 BC) A. Migratory Patterns: - Mostly nomadic, move with seasons - Made small camps B. Social Structure: Larger groups/ communities
Archaic Indians C. Tools and Weapons: D. Food: Atlatl: Allowed spears to be thrown at high speeds D. Food: Berries, nuts, and fruit & small game
Whitetail Deer Turkey Bear Shellfish Opossum Rabbit Fox
Archaic Indians E. Cultural Aspects: 1st signs of clay pottery Decorative stone and bone pieces
Woodland Indians (1,000 BCE-750 CE) A. Migratory Patterns: Settled in villages More sturdy structures B. Social Structure: Tribes are formed
Woodland Indians C. Tools and Weapons: D. Food: Bow and Arrow is invented D. Food: Small game: Small animals such as rabbit & squirrel -First to farm (horticulture)
Woodland Indians E. Cultural Aspects: FIRST to build burial mounds (in the shape of animals) Markings on pottery
Mississippian Indians (800 CE-1600 CE) A. Migratory Patterns: Large tribes near rivers In groups of houses made of wood & clay B. Social Structure: Chiefdom: villages ruled by a priest-chief
Mississippian Indians C. Tools and Weapons: Stone weapons & farming tools
D. Food: Agriculturally advanced Tobacco Maize (corn) Squash
Mississippian Indians E. Cultural Aspects: Flat-topped burial mounds Ear ornaments Tattoos Feather and copper headdresses
Mississippian Indians
P A W M Aleo (Paleo) Te (Archaic) ild (Woodland) ammoth (Mississippian)