1. WHAT IS “PREHISTORY”? 2. WHEN DID IT BEGIN, AND

WHEN DID IT END IN GEORGIA?

Warm-up for 08.16.11

1.What is the definition of “prehistory”?

Prehistory refers to the time before written records were kept by human beings.

2. When did it begin, and when did it end in Georgia?

1.Began when the very first inhabitants of Georgia arrived some 10,000+ years ago.

2.Prehistory ends in Georgia with the arrival of Spanish-Explorer Hernando DeSoto (around 1539). Beginning of traditional European written records of GA

Time to collect HW, set up binders, and talk

procedures!!!

• 5 tab dividers - to be organized into the following sections: 1.) Warm-ups2.) Notes3.) Classwork4.) Quizzes5.) Government/CEF

• GA Studies Standards List goes in from of your dividers (1st thing in your notebook)

• Classroom procedures:• Bathroom = 2 passes per 9 weeks/can enter for

drawing• Please raise hand and wait to be called on• Please do not come up to me without being in

your seat and asking for permission by raising your hand.

Warm-up for 08.17.11Please draw the timeline below and plot GA’s

Prehistoric periods on the timeline. Then, beneath the name of the period, write the name

of most important technology created during that period.

Mazazoic Period - throwing spear

Example only!

10,000 B.C. 1539 A.D.

AC

Warm-up for 08.17.11

10,000 B.C. 1539 A.D.

AC

Prehistory in GA Timeline and Most Important Inventions

Warm-up for 08.17.11

Mazazoic Period - throwing spear Example only!

10,000 B.C. 1539 A.D.

OL

Prehistory in GA Timeline and Most Important Inventions

Please draw the timeline below and plot GA’s Prehistoric periods on the timeline. Then, beneath the name of the period, write the name of most important

technology created during that period.

DO NOT COPY!

COPY!

Warm-up for 08.17.11

10,000 B.C. 1539 A.D.

AC

Prehistory in GA Timeline and Most Important Inventions

Georgia’s Prehistoric Periods

Prehistoric Time Period

Dwellings Weapons Food Religion

PALEO“very old”

Dates: around 10,000 B.C. – 8, 000 B.C.

• lived in groups of 25-50• always on the move (nomadic) in search of food = NO permanent form of housing• used natural features – slept in caves, under trees, or in dug out pits with brush coverings

• Basic tools made of stone - spears, knives, scrapers • Atlatl – propelled spears long distances

• Large game – Mammoth,. Sloth, Bison, and Mastodons•As period moves on and climate warms, natural fruits, nuts, and berries too

• No evidence found• May have had a general spirituality though

ARCHAIC“old”

Dates:8,000 B.C. – 1,000 B.C.

• Combined groups to form larger groups of 50-100• Around 6,000 B.C., semi-permanent, seasonal housing created • Wooden pole homes with thatch roof. Foundation of house 1-2 feet below surface level for keep cool. Not constructed for long-term use.

• Invented a wider variety of tools to save time and effort• Grooved axe – used primarily to cut wood (stone axe head with wood handle )• Drill, chipper• Knives, spears, and scrapers still used

• Becoming more refined. Smaller and sharper spearpoints/stone heads

• Archaic Indians moved from season to season in search of food.•hunting smaller game now – deer, bear, turkey, rabbit, reptiles, birds, and fish• Fruits, nuts, and berries make up bulk of diet • Shellfish a big part of diet

• “Middens” = large trash heaps of discarded shells found at Sapelo Island off the coast of GA (around 2,500 B.C.)

• Pottery first created and used for food storage and cooking. This allows Indians to travel less in search of food.

• Proper burial of the dead in specifically designated burial grounds.• Burial appears to be “plain” – no extra items buried with dead until the very end of the period (closer to 1,000 B.C.)

Georgia’s Prehistoric Periods (Indian Traditions): CHANGE OVER TIME

Prehistoric Time Period

Dwellings Weapons Food Religion

WOOD-LAND“Moundbuilders”

Trade becomes common over long distances during this period.

Dates:1,000 B.C. – 1,000 A.D.

• small bands of Indians join together to form larger tribes of 100-1000• homes becoming more permanent with solid cane/grass mat walls. Wooden pole structure still used and foundation sitting 1-2 ft. below ground surface level. Large, circular hole in the roof made to allow smoke to escape.

• Bow-and-arrow invented. More accurate, greater speed, lighter, and “re-loadable”• same tools as in Archaic period just made better, more efficient

• Birth of AGRICULTURE leads to ability to settle down in one area ---pumpkin, corn, squash, peas, and bottle gourd

• Provides constant food supply, takes slightly less effort/time freeing Woodland Indians up to do other things

• Nuts, berries, fruit still gathered• Small game still hunted

• Burial mounds and ceremonial mounds created for 1st time!• Weapons, jewelry, pottery, and ceremonial objects buried with the dead suggest belief in afterlife• Animal effigy –a representation or image of a revered animal. Monument or pottery. Rock Eagle in GA- 200 A.D.

MISSISS-IPPIANNamed for a culture that 1.) liked to live near rivers, 2.) had long growing seasons, and 3.) frequently hunted deer and turkey.

Life is “specialized.” Tribe members have specific jobs and functions.

Dates:1,000 A.D. - @ 1500 A.D.

• 1,000+ families in large villages protected by wooden palisades and moats•Wattle and daub houses built of wood and clay

• Most permanent of all dwellings

•Guard towers built on mounds and used to defend against enemies

• ALL from previous periods only made better, more efficient

• Grew most of their food!• Corn – most important crop grown• Other crops /wild game/ fruits, nuts, and berries listed above still eaten • Harvested crops stored in “storehouses” for more consistent food supply• “Slash-and-burn” technique used to make farmland more fertile

• Priest-chief presides over elaborate, lengthy religious ceremonies• Religious life starts to be controlled by tribal leaders (a.k.a. – the government of the village)

Prehistoric Time

Period

Dwellings Weapons Food Religion FINAL PICTURE

PALEO

Dates:

ARCHAIC

Dates:

Name _____________________________ Date _____________ Per ______

Georgia’s Prehistoric Periods (Indian Traditions): CHANGE OVER TIME

Prehistoric Time

Period

Dwellings Weapons Food Religion FINAL PICTURE

WOOD-LAND

Dates:

MISSISS-IPPIAN

Dates:

Snapshots of Paleo-Indian Life

The Paleo Period Dates

10,000-8,000 B.C. Weapons

“Clovis” points Stone spear points

Knives and scrapers Atlatl – used to propel spears

long distances Food

Large game hunted animals Mammoths, bisons, ground

sloths, and mastadons Wild berries and nuts gathered

Dwellings Lived in groups of 25-

50 Nomadic = always on

the move for food = no permanent housing

Slept in caves, under cliffs, and dug out “sleeping pits”

Religion Artifacts to suggest

general spirituality – nothing specific

Paleo = “Very old” / few lived to be 30 yrs. old

Snapshots of Archaic-Indian Life

The Archaic Period Dates

8,000 – 1,000 B.C. Weapons

New tools invented to save time and effort

Clovis points become smaller and sharper

Grooved Axe – stone head w/ wood handle. Used primarily to chop wood / remove brush

Food Hunted smaller game as period

progresses Deer, bear, turkey, rabbit, birds, fish

Fishing and gathering important Large remains of middens (trash

heaps of shells ) found on Stallings Island in GA

Clay pots to store and transport food in created

Dwellings Small groups gathered to

form larger groups of 50-100

Would move from season to season

Semi-permanent housing w/ wooden poles covered by animal hides, braches, and bark

Religion Proper burial of the dead

seems to be important Tools, weapons, and

ornaments found in tombs

Things becoming more settled

Snapshots of Archaic-Indian Life

Sapelo Island:

http://www.lostworlds.org/sapelo_shell_rings.html

Stallings Island:Stallings Island, a National Historic Landmark site, was a major settlement of Late Archaic Native Americans from 4,500 to 3,500 years

ago.

Located in the Savannah River eight miles upstream from Augusta, the sixteen-acre island is the namesake of Stallings Culture and its hallmark pottery, Stallings fiber-tempered wares, the oldest pottery in North America.

Snapshots of Woodland-Indian LifeEvidence of long-distance trading

The Woodland Period Dates

1,000 B.C. – 1,000 A.D. Weapons

Bow and Arrow – better accuracy/saves time

Arrowheads become smaller and sharper

Food Beginning of Horticulture

Seeds are saved for planting Nuts, corn, squash, and

bottle-gourd Small game hunted

Dwellings More sturdy houses as

small groups join together and form tribes

Flat-topped mounds for gathering/ceremonies

Animal effigy mounds – Rock Eagle created in 200 A.D.

Religion Burial mounds with

more elaborate tombs containing jewelry, pottery, figurines, and ceremonial objects

The Mound-Builders!

Snapshots of Woodland-Indian Life

Rock Eagle:

http://www.lostworlds.org/rock_eagle.html

Kolomoki Mounds (1st in GA):

http://www.lostworlds.org/kolomoki_mounds.html

Snapshots of Mississippian-Indian Life

The Mississippian Period Dates

1,000 A.D. – about 1600 A.D. Weapons

All tools and weapons from previous periods – only better-made and more effective

Food Grew most food

Corn, beans, pumpkin, and squash

Used slash-and-burn technique

Stored food in storehouses for a constant supply

Dwellings Large-scale communities

w/ palisades and moats Several 1,000 families

living together Wattle and daub houses

made of clay, wood, and forest brush

Mound communities like Etowah and Ocmulgee

Religion Priest-chief presides over

religious ceremonies Religious aspects

controlled by govt.

The Europeans are coming soon!

Snapshots of Mississippian-Indian Life

Etowah Indian Mounds:

http://www.lostworlds.org/ga_mississippian.html

End of Prehistory?

Prehistory ends in Georgia with the arrival of Spanish-Explorer Hernando deSoto. (around 1539) Beginning of

traditional European written records of GA