Unit 2 Lesson 1Prehistoric Peoples

Early Native Americans

Standard• SS8H1 The student will evaluate

the development of Native American cultures and the impact of European exploration and settlement on the Native American cultures in Georgia.a. Describe the evolution of Native American cultures (Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian) prior to European contact.

Essential Question• What led to the colonization

of Georgia?

Crossing the Land Bridge• Over 20,000 years ago,

earth experienced an ice age

• Humans got here following food; didn’t know land was here

• 1st life was in Africa• Crossed Bering Strait (land

bridge)• Took thousands of years to

migrate

Paleo Indian Period

• Paleo is Greek for “very old”

• 1st people in GA• Nomadic (roaming)

hunters• Hunted mastodons• Period referred to as

the Paleolithic age

Paleo

• Time Period: Before 10,000 years ago.

• Food Source: bison, mammoth, ground sloth, and mastodon

• Weapons: Spires• Shelter: no fixed

shelter; followed herds of large animals

Archaic Indian Period

• Greek meaning is “old”• Learn to make pottery

Archaic• Time Period: 8000 B.C. to

1000 B.C.• Food Source: Small game,

reptiles, fish, shellfish, berries, nuts, fruits

• Weapons, Tools: spears, choppers, drills, chipping tools, bone fish hooks, grooved axes, pipes, pottery

• Shelter: crude shelters, stayed in one place longer.

Woodland Indian Period• 3 sister crops, started farming–Maize, squash, and beans–Believed in life after death (tools

found in mounds)

Woodland• Time Period: 1000 B.C. to

1000 A.D.• Food Source: small game,

fish, nuts and berries, some crops (squash, sunflowers)

• Weapons, Tools: bow and arrow, pottery

• Shelter: small villages of dome-shaped huts with grass roofs, mounds

Mississippian Indian Period

• Lived in GA when Europeans arrived• Most highly developed• Know about this group from writings by

Hernando de Soto

Mississippian• Time Period: 700 A.D.• Food Source: crops

(maize, beans, pumpkins, squash)

• Weapons, Tools: similar to Woodland culture, stone hoes, copper headdresses.

• Shelter: larger villages with ceremonial buildings.

PAW - M

Lesson Practice

Question 1

1. How did glaciers contribute to human migration to the Americas?

A. By making ice bridgesB. By creating otherwise scarce waterC. By exposing the land bridgeD. By growing the size of most animals

Question 2

2. During which period did people hunt mastodons?

A. Paleo-IndiansB. ArchaicC. WoodlandD. Mississippian

Question 3

3. In addition to squash, what other food crops made up the Three Sister?

A. Peppers and cornB. Potatoes and beansC. Beans and maizeD. Corn and potatoes

Question 4

4. Which early Native American period lasted until Europeans came to the Americas?

A. Paleo- IndianB. ArchaicC. MississippianD. Woodland

Early Indians