North American North American ArchaeologyArchaeology

PaleoindianPaleoindianArchaicArchaic

WoodlandWoodlandMississippianMississippian

PaleoindianPaleoindian

Pre-ClovisPre-Clovis• Occupation prior to 12,000 years agoOccupation prior to 12,000 years ago• Sites include:Sites include:

Monte Verde, ChileMonte Verde, Chile Meadowcroft Rockshelter, PAMeadowcroft Rockshelter, PA Cactus Hill, VACactus Hill, VA

ClovisClovis• From 12,000 to 11,200 years agoFrom 12,000 to 11,200 years ago• Clovis projectile pointsClovis projectile points

Paleoindian (other than Clovis) ends with Paleoindian (other than Clovis) ends with end of Pleistocene (10,000 years ago)end of Pleistocene (10,000 years ago)

Location of Dust CaveLocation of Dust Cave

Dust Cave Paleoindian Dust Cave Paleoindian 10,800-10,000 B.P.10,800-10,000 B.P.

Excavation UnitsExcavation Units

ExcavationExcavation

Mapping

Screening

Flotation

The Trench

Close-up of Zones and Close-up of Zones and FeaturesFeatures

Hearth

Ash Pit

Remnant of Clay-lined floor

Hearth

ArtifactsArtifacts

Bone tools

Animal bones

ProjectilePoints

Camp LifeCamp Life

Kitchen/Lab

Tents

Boat AccessBoat Access

Archaic PeriodArchaic Period10,000-3,000 B.P.10,000-3,000 B.P.

Begins with start of Holocene Begins with start of Holocene (10,000)(10,000)

Characterized by more generalized Characterized by more generalized foraging.foraging.• Hunting deer, other mammalsHunting deer, other mammals

Still fairly mobile lifestyle.Still fairly mobile lifestyle. More variable stone tools.More variable stone tools.

Early Archaic: Koster, IL Early Archaic: Koster, IL

Middle Archaic: Shell Mounds/MiddensMiddle Archaic: Shell Mounds/Middens

Late Archaic: Poverty PointLate Archaic: Poverty Point

Poverty Point: Mounds and ObjectsPoverty Point: Mounds and Objects

Woodland (3,000-1,000 B.P.)Woodland (3,000-1,000 B.P.)

Increased Sedentism (living in one Increased Sedentism (living in one place year round)place year round)

Horticulture of native plantsHorticulture of native plants• Sumpweed, maygrass, sunflower, Sumpweed, maygrass, sunflower,

gourds, squashgourds, squash Increase use of potteryIncrease use of pottery Mound building expandsMound building expands

Early Woodland: Adena CultureEarly Woodland: Adena Culture

Effigy Mounds

Conical burial mounds

Adena ArtifactsAdena Artifacts

Middle Woodland: Hopewell Middle Woodland: Hopewell CultureCulture

Copper Art

Effigy pipes

Late Woodland: Northeastern SitesLate Woodland: Northeastern Sites

Northeastern cultures continued in Northeastern cultures continued in the Late Woodland tradition.the Late Woodland tradition.

Long Houses, large populations.Long Houses, large populations. Corn, Beans and squash horticulture Corn, Beans and squash horticulture

by 1200 A.D.by 1200 A.D. Some site with palisades (wooden Some site with palisades (wooden

walls) constructed around them.walls) constructed around them.

MississippianMississippian (1000-500 B.P.)(1000-500 B.P.)

Height of complexity in eastern North Height of complexity in eastern North America.America.

Centralized governments, large “city-Centralized governments, large “city-states”.states”.

Flat-topped mounds.Flat-topped mounds. Elaborate burial mounds.Elaborate burial mounds.

Mississippian Sites: Mississippian Sites: Etowah, MoundsvilleEtowah, Moundsville

Etowah Mound and Statues, GA

Moundsville, AL

Cahokia, ILCahokia, IL

Monks Mound-CahokiaMonks Mound-Cahokia

Largest North American structure-

Mississippian CeramicsMississippian Ceramics

Human Effigy

Owl

Dog

Shell OrnamentsShell Ornaments

Shell Mask

Spider Gorget

Priest/Warrior Gorget

Lithic ArtifactsLithic Artifacts

Monolithic AxeDuck River Cache, TN

Burial & Status: Cahokia Mound 72Burial & Status: Cahokia Mound 72The wood dates to approximately 1000 A.D.   272 burials were discovered in mound 72.

Burials without litters Burials with litters

Mound 72Mound 72

Headless Burials Female Burial Pit (53 between 15 and 30)

Historic Contact (Post A.D. 1492)Historic Contact (Post A.D. 1492)

Contact between Europeans and Contact between Europeans and Native Americans.Native Americans.

Early settler sites.Early settler sites. Historic Farmsteads.Historic Farmsteads. Plantation Archaeology.Plantation Archaeology.

Jamestown, VA 1607-1698Jamestown, VA 1607-1698

Jamestown ArtifactsJamestown Artifacts