1. Native American Cultures and Exploration
Unit 2
8th Grade Georgia Studies

2. Paleo Indians Paleo (from Greek, “Very Old”) Also called Old Stone Age
Time period lasted about 10,000 years
Nomadic (roaming) hunters
Most tools and spear points made of stone
Used an “atlatl”: stone sling-like implement that threw darts from a longer distance

3. Archaic Indians Archaic (means “Old”)
Three time spans: Early, Middle, Late
Early Archaic period: 8,000 B.C. to 5,000 B.C.
Hunted large animals and small game
Invented tools from deer antlers
Moved with each season to find best food resources

4. Woodland Indians 1,000 B.C. to 1,000 A.D.
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
Improved pottery-making techniques

5. Mississippian Indians
Also called the Temple Mound period
Farmed with homemade tools and grew most of their food
Thousands might live in a single settlement, protected by fences and moats
Very religious; used jewelry and body art

6. Archaeological Finds!
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.
There are large temple mounds in Early, Bartow, and Bibb counties.
Stallings Island near Augusta is a large shell midden.