1. Georgia’s Prehistory

2. 1. What is the difference between history and pre-history?V
Introduction
1. What is the difference between history and pre-history?
the presence of writing and writing records.
Pre-history is history before the existence of written records.
2. What are the different ways we gained knowledge about each period?
PREHISTORY
HISTORY
3. How does the knowledge information/knowledge that we have about each time period differ?
Oral tradition
Artifacts (tools, pottery)
Shale
Fossils
Cave drawings
Documents
Letters
Written accounts
Books
-Theories and inferences
-Less concrete information
-Concrete information
-Specific

3. Ecofacts – Natural relics, such as sharks' teeth, bones, fossils, etc.
Because they have no written records, historians are not 100% certain about the pre-historic past. There are many clues, however, such as:
Artifacts – Man-made relics, such as arrowheads, pottery, cave markings, etc.
Ecofacts – Natural relics, such as sharks' teeth, bones, fossils, etc.
What is Carbon 14 Testing:
Radioactive carbon exists in all living things. When a plant or animal dies, it begins to lose its carbon at a known rate. Testing carbon levels in the remains of, can allow scientist to tell how old something is within about 200 years. It can also be used to test clothing or artifacts.

4. How did the first people get here???
Prior to 11,000 B.C., there was a frozen land bridge between Asia and North America referred to now as Beringia. 1
Many followed herds of buffalo and mammoth across the Beringia land bridge into North America. 2

5. Eventually, the earth warmed, Beringia melted, and Asia and America were separated by the Bering Sea. 3
The Paleo-Indians, unable to return to Asia, dispersed throughout North America. 11,000 – 8,000 BC 4

6. P A W M
Georgia's pre-historic past is divided into four major periods (try to use the acronym P.A.W.M. to help you remember):
1. Paleo-Indian Period (11,000 – 8000 B.C.)
3. Woodland Period (1000 B.C. – 900 A.D.)
4. Mississippian Period (900 – 1600 A.D.)
2. Archaic Period (8,000 B.C. – 1,000 B.C.)
11,000 B.C.
8000 B.C.
1000 B.C.
900 A.D.
1600 A.D.
2000 A.D.
PALEO-INDIAN
ARCHAIC
WOODLAND
MISSISSIPPIAN

7. Paleo “Very old” 11,000 – 8,000 B.C.E

8. Paleo: Food/Hunting
Dwelling/Lifestyle: The Paleo-Indians were nomads, constantly on the move as they hunted large game.
Food:
Large game (aka Megafauna)
woolly mammoth
Saber-tooth tiger
Bison
Sloth
Mastodons
Berries and nut

9. Paleo: Weapons and Tools
Clovis Point, a large point attached to a spear
Knives
Scrapers

10. Paleo: Dwellings and Lifestyle
First humans in Ga.
Nomadic hunters and gatherers
Lived in small groups of 25-50
Homes made of animal skins
Lived near water (Savannah, Ocmulgee and Flint Rivers)

11. Archaic “old” – 1000 B.C.E

12. Archaic: Food Deer Bear Turkey Rabbits Fruit Berries and Nuts Snakes
Fish

13. Archaic: Weapons and Tools
Grooved axe
Hooks and nets for fishing
Drills
Tools of stone and bone
Choppers
Atlatl (missile launcher)
Fire hearths

14. Archaic: Dwellings and Lifestyle
Nomads that moved with seasons to find food
Lived in Camps
Made pottery
Evidence of trade with groups outside the state.
Late Archaic- began to practice horticulture.
The oldest pottery found in America was Archaic pottery found near Augusta, Georgia.

15. Archaic: Religion
Burial grounds were found.

16. Woodland 1000 B.C.E – 900 C.E.

17. Woodland: Food First to farm as major source of food(horticulture)
Fish
Animals
Berries and Nuts
Squash
Greens
Depended on Corn

18. Woodland: Weapons and Tools
Developed the Bow and Arrow
Elaborate pottery. (storage)
Stone and shark tooth
Deer Antlers
Knives

19. Woodland: Dwelling & Lifestyle
Farming allowed them to stay in one place (not nomadic like the others)
Developed small villages and tribes
Homes of wood, leaves
Cook fires inside huts
Trade with other peoples.
Artifacts found in Georgia from other parts of America, such as Ohio and Michigan, suggest that the Woodlands began to trade with other peoples.

20. Woodland: Religion Built ceremonial and burial mounds
First to have mounds
Funeral Items
Rock Eagle Mound

21. Mississippian 800CE – 1600CE

22. Mississippian: Culture
Chiefdom society- hierarchical society w/ few elite and mostly commoners
Most complex of prehistoric cultures
First to come into contact with Europeans
Mound towns with dome shaped huts
Lived in large societies
Ultimately ended due to diseases

23. Mississippian: Religion
Built enormous ceremonial mounds (ex., Etowah).
Tobacco used in ceremonies
Practiced sophisticated religious beliefs
Priests
Temple Mounds

24. Mississippian: Food Large scale farming Maize Beans Pumpkin Squash
Harvested Crops

25. Mississippian: Weapons/Protection/Tools
Shovels (digging sticks)
Bow and arrow
Spears
Knives
Axes
Stone and bone hoes
Moats
Guard Towers

26. Mississippian: Shelter
Mound towns with dome shaped huts
Lived in large societies

27. What do you remember about… Georgia's pre-historic traditions???
Lesson Five (SS8H1a) – Describe the evolution of Native American cultures (Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian) prior to European contact.
What do you remember about… Georgia's pre-historic traditions???
1. Most ancient pre-historic tradition A. Paleo-Indian A D
2. Known as the great mound builders
B. Archaic C
3. Invented the bow & arrow
C. Woodland A
4. Hunted large game with a clovis point
D. Mississippian C
5. The first farmers B
6. Developed the atlatl to help hunt smaller game D
7. The most advanced tradition; ruled by chiefs B
8. The first fishermen; also began to gather nuts & berries
SS8H1 – The student will evaluate the development of Native American cultures and the impact of European exploration and settlement on the Native American cultures in Georgia.