Woodland Woodland (1000 B.C.- (1000 B.C.- 1000 A.D.) 1000 A.D.) Eventually, people in Eventually, people in Georgia made an Georgia made an important discovery. important discovery. Besides eating corn, Besides eating corn, they could plant it and they could plant it and expect a corn crop to expect a corn crop to grow during the summer. grow during the summer. Farming Farming is to is to intentionally grow a intentionally grow a food crop in a certain food crop in a certain area. It’s a huge break- area. It’s a huge break- through for the Native through for the Native Americans. They could Americans. They could let the food “come” to let the food “come” to them! them!
Eventually, people in Eventually, people in Georgia made an important Georgia made an important discovery. Besides eating discovery. Besides eating corn, they could plant it and corn, they could plant it and expect a corn crop to grow expect a corn crop to grow during the summer. during the summer. Farming Farming is to intentionally grow a is to intentionally grow a food crop in a certain area. food crop in a certain area. It’s a huge break- through It’s a huge break- through for the Native Americans. for the Native Americans. They could let the food They could let the food “come” to them!“come” to them!
Because food was easier Because food was easier to get, the need for to get, the need for movement was reduced. movement was reduced. The groups of bands (of The groups of bands (of the Archaic period) the Archaic period) grew to be grew to be tribestribes (200- (200-400) of people by the 400) of people by the Woodland period.Woodland period.
Technology:Technology: Bow and ArrowBow and Arrow: for hunting : for hunting
small game such as deer or small game such as deer or squirrel. squirrel.
Dart/Blow Gun:Dart/Blow Gun: for hunting for hunting very small game such as birds, very small game such as birds, rabbits, etc. rabbits, etc.
Question: Question: Why would these new Why would these new weapons be an improvement for weapons be an improvement for hunting over the use of the atl-atl hunting over the use of the atl-atl for hunting deer or rabbits? for hunting deer or rabbits? (Hint: think about the delivery)(Hint: think about the delivery)
Technology: Technology: The people who The people who lived during the Woodland era were lived during the Woodland era were much different from their ancestors much different from their ancestors during the Paleo and Archaic time during the Paleo and Archaic time periods. Why?periods. Why?
Tribal Growth: Tribal Growth: For the first For the first time in history, man learned a very time in history, man learned a very important skill: he could plant a seed, important skill: he could plant a seed, fertilize it, and wait for it to grow into fertilize it, and wait for it to grow into something edible. The fear of something edible. The fear of starvation was lessened considerably. starvation was lessened considerably. It also encouraged “tribes” to stay in It also encouraged “tribes” to stay in one place. These tribes could be 200-one place. These tribes could be 200-300 people. The main farm crop was 300 people. The main farm crop was corn.corn.
Girdling: Girdling: This is the process of This is the process of cutting down a tree with a stone axe. cutting down a tree with a stone axe. The Woodland Indian would cut a The Woodland Indian would cut a circle around the base of the tree circle around the base of the tree trunk. Eventually, the tree would die, trunk. Eventually, the tree would die, and could be pushed over easily.and could be pushed over easily.
Slash & Burn: Slash & Burn: This process involves This process involves cutting away all vegetation on the cutting away all vegetation on the ground, and then burning it. The soil ground, and then burning it. The soil can then be used for planting, or can then be used for planting, or allowed to grow back naturally. The allowed to grow back naturally. The young plants that grow there attract young plants that grow there attract deer, rabbits, etc. because those plants deer, rabbits, etc. because those plants are the best to eat!are the best to eat!
Woodland LandmarkWoodland Landmark One of the signs of the Woodland One of the signs of the Woodland
period in Georgia is the Rock Eagle period in Georgia is the Rock Eagle Effigy Mound. (“Effigy” means Effigy Mound. (“Effigy” means “form” or “in the image”). This is “form” or “in the image”). This is near Eatonton, GA (near Covington). near Eatonton, GA (near Covington).
Quartz Rocks were piled 10 ft. high, Quartz Rocks were piled 10 ft. high, 102 feet in length, and 120 ft. wide. 102 feet in length, and 120 ft. wide.
Archaeologists think Rock Eagle Archaeologists think Rock Eagle might have been used as a religious might have been used as a religious center for many groups in the area.center for many groups in the area.
Question: Why would an “eagle” be a Question: Why would an “eagle” be a good choice for a religious meeting good choice for a religious meeting area? (Hint: what characteristics area? (Hint: what characteristics would an eagle have that humans would an eagle have that humans might wish to emulate?)might wish to emulate?)
Woodland WonderingsWoodland Wonderings QUESTIONS TO PONDER:QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
Which is the best description of the Woodland Indians?Which is the best description of the Woodland Indians?--Food Gatherer--Food Gatherer
What was the purpose for Rock Eagle? What was the purpose for Rock Eagle?
Why did the Woodland Indians change their style of Why did the Woodland Indians change their style of weapons? (Hint: think about the delivery of the arrow)weapons? (Hint: think about the delivery of the arrow)
As time went on, As time went on, cultures got even better cultures got even better at growing food. Where at growing food. Where the Woodland Indians the Woodland Indians grew corn (“maize”), grew corn (“maize”), the Mississippian the Mississippian Indians grew a variety Indians grew a variety of crops such as of crops such as pumpkin, squash, beans,pumpkin, squash, beans,
Because food was easily Because food was easily provided, group size grew to provided, group size grew to chiefdoms chiefdoms (2000+ people) (2000+ people) for this tradition. for this tradition.
The Chief, or The Chief, or mico,mico, was the was the spiritual & political of the spiritual & political of the chiefdom. He could be chiefdom. He could be carried down from his carried down from his mound on a “litter” (a seat mound on a “litter” (a seat carried between two poles carried between two poles by warriors).by warriors).
The chief lived on man-The chief lived on man-made mounds of dirt. Other made mounds of dirt. Other smaller mounds might be smaller mounds might be for a lesser chief (medicine for a lesser chief (medicine man) or a burial mound. man) or a burial mound.
When a chief died, his body When a chief died, his body & house might be burned & house might be burned on top on the mound. Then, on top on the mound. Then, more dirt would be added more dirt would be added and the new chief (his son) and the new chief (his son) would live on top of the would live on top of the mound.mound.
The bow and arrow was improved The bow and arrow was improved with the triangular arrowheadwith the triangular arrowhead
Pottery was decorated with Pottery was decorated with patterns. It was also made into patterns. It was also made into many different shapes & forms.many different shapes & forms.
In Etowah, “V’s” of rocks were In Etowah, “V’s” of rocks were put in the river to force fish to put in the river to force fish to swim through the point of the “V”swim through the point of the “V”
““Chunkey”- A game in which two spears are Chunkey”- A game in which two spears are thrown at a rolling stone. The one that thrown at a rolling stone. The one that lands closest to the stone (without hitting lands closest to the stone (without hitting it) would score a point.it) would score a point.
““Bear Skull”- A game in which a skull is tied Bear Skull”- A game in which a skull is tied on top of a pole. The two teams try to take on top of a pole. The two teams try to take a dear skin ball and hit the skull with it. If a dear skin ball and hit the skull with it. If they do, they get a point. If not, everyone they do, they get a point. If not, everyone goes for a rebound. Teams try to tackle goes for a rebound. Teams try to tackle players with the ball and steal it. If a team players with the ball and steal it. If a team scores, then the other team gets the ball.scores, then the other team gets the ball.
““Stick Ball” – A game like our modern-day of Stick Ball” – A game like our modern-day of lacrosse. Players use two netted sticks to lacrosse. Players use two netted sticks to pass the ball to teammates to get across a pass the ball to teammates to get across a goal. Sometimes two chiefdoms might goal. Sometimes two chiefdoms might agree to play this game to settle a dispute agree to play this game to settle a dispute rather than going to war.rather than going to war.
EtowahEtowah: located in NW GA (near : located in NW GA (near Cartersville), this site has 7 mounds and Cartersville), this site has 7 mounds and used the “V” trap for fishing. The chief used the “V” trap for fishing. The chief would live on the highest mound.would live on the highest mound.
OcmulgeeOcmulgee: located in middle GA (near : located in middle GA (near Macon), this site also has mounds, Macon), this site also has mounds, including an earth mound that was hollow including an earth mound that was hollow so that meetings could be held in there. A so that meetings could be held in there. A raging fire would make it a “sweat lodge” raging fire would make it a “sweat lodge” and the “Black Drink” would make people and the “Black Drink” would make people vomit before entering. vomit before entering.
Question: Why would sweating and Question: Why would sweating and purging with the Black Drink be used at purging with the Black Drink be used at these meetings? (Hint: think about these meetings? (Hint: think about symbolism)symbolism)
MississippiansMississippians
Survival wasn’t a constant concern so they had Survival wasn’t a constant concern so they had time for other pursuits, like:time for other pursuits, like:
Elaborate ceremonies with elaborate Elaborate ceremonies with elaborate headdresses and costumes.headdresses and costumes.
Beautiful jewelry to adorn themselves, show Beautiful jewelry to adorn themselves, show status.status.
Tattoos, also to adorn themselves, show status.Tattoos, also to adorn themselves, show status. Fortifications, like moats & palisades to Fortifications, like moats & palisades to
protect their cities from enemies.protect their cities from enemies.
Mississippian MusingsMississippian Musings QUESTIONS TO PONDER:QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
Which is the best description of the Mississippian Indians?Which is the best description of the Mississippian Indians?--Food Gatherer--Food Gatherer
What was the purpose for the Earth lodge? What was the purpose for the Earth lodge?
What was the symbolism of the people making the mounds What was the symbolism of the people making the mounds for the mico to live on top of it? Who is he closer to by for the mico to live on top of it? Who is he closer to by living up there?living up there?
