The first inhabitants of Georgia Prehistoric Georgia The first inhabitants of Georgia

What Is History? History relates to events that have occurred in the past and are important. In order to study history, you need to use Primary Sources – firsthand accounts of a historical event, which are in writing.

Examples of a Primary Source Some examples of a primary source are newspapers, diaries/journals, autobiographies, and government reports.

What is Prehistory Prehistory refers to the period of time before written records were kept. Means before history began No written records were kept during prehistoric times.

How can we study prehistory? We study prehistory with the use of artifacts and ecofacts. Artifacts are objects made by humans (arrowheads, tools, pottery). Ecofacts are natural objects relating to living matter (bones, teeth, skulls, shells).

Who Studies Prehistory? Archeologists study prehistory. An archeologist learns about previous societies by studying the artifacts and ecofacts left behind by that society.

The First Americans Human beings originated on the Continent of Africa around five million years ago. In order to survive, they had to hunt and gather all of their food.

The First Americans Cont. 12,000 years ago the first humans reached North America. A band of humans crossed an ice bridge called Beringia. The bridge connected Siberia and Alaska. 1,300 miles wide and four times the length of Georgia

Picture of Early Humans Crossing Beringia Was this trip planned, and do you think that they had directions to N. America?

Prehistoric Native Americans Who were they? When did they arrive? Where was their original home? Why did they come? What did they eat? What kind of animals did they find here? Where did they live?

Vocabulary Terms Define: Archeologist Anthropologist Shale Artifact Culture Tribes Antiquities

Understanding through Artifacts Oral Tradition: Elders repeated the narrative of events often until younger generations had memorized them Archeologists dig into earth to find artifacts (items made by people) that tell us about early inhabitants Shale: layered rock that can encase animals or birds

Understanding through Culture Anthropologists use artifacts, cave drawings, well-traveled pathways, and oral history to study a group’s culture Culture: shared beliefs, traditions, music, art, and social institutions of a group of people

Who, When, and How? Migration unplanned Nomads wandered looking for food as they traveled, others followed Climate warmer, more food Found woolly mammoths, mastodons, ground sloths, etc. All Native Americans descended from these Nomads

Who, When, and How? By 10,000 B.C. humans had arrived in what is now the Southeastern United States The following 11,700 years of history are divided into four traditions: Paleo Archaic Woodland Mississippian

Paleo-Indian Period Before 10,000 years ago “Paleo” means “very old” Also called Old Stone Age Mainly ate large animals such as mammoths, bison, mastodons, & ground sloths

Paleo Indians Nomadic (roaming) hunters Most tools and spear points made of stone Used “atlatl”: stone, sling-like implement that threw darts from a longer distance

Paleo-Indian Period

Paleo-Indian Period Early Indians never stayed in one place for long – no evidence of fixed shelter Camped in the open Sometimes dug pits or built shelters to protect against weather Followed herds of large animals

Archaic Period 8000 B.C. to 1000 B.C. Archaic means “old” Three time spans Early (8000 B.C.-5000 B.C.) Middle (began around 5000 B.C.) Late (4000 B.C.-1000 B.C.) Crude shelters; stayed in one place longer

Archaic Hunted large animals and small game Invented tools from deer antlers Moved with each season to find best food resources Water levels moved back along rivers & coastal areas People began making hooks from animal bones Shellfish became a more common food Food became easier to find and there was less movement

Archaic Created grooved axes to clear trees and bushes Began saving and planting seeds for planting (horticulture) Made and used pottery for cooking and storing food

Woodland Period 1000 B.C. to A.D. 1000 Tribe: group of people sharing common ancestry, name, and way of living Hundreds of families formed tribes Built domed-shaped huts with trees Used bow and arrows to hunt Held religious ceremonies

Woodland Period Improved pottery making techniques Ate small game, fish, nuts, and berries Also planted crops such as squash & sunflowers

Mississippian Period 700 A.D. to 1600 A.D. Also called the Temple Mound Period Farmed with homemade tools and grew most of their own food Crops (maize, beans, pumpkins, squash) Thousands lived in single settlement, protected by fences and moats Very religious; used jewelry and body art

Mississippian Period Ancient middens (garbage piles) show what people ate, how they used fire, what they used for cooking Ocmulgee National Monument near Macon reveals a large ceremonial area with benches and platforms Similar tools as Woodland period: stone hoes, copper headdresses

Mississippian Period Kolomoki Mounds Rock Eagle Mounds Blakely County Near Social Circle