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