Woodland (1000 B.C.- 1000 A.D.)

1
Woodland (1000 B.C.- 1000 A.D.)

• Eventually, people in Georgia made an important
  discovery. Besides eating corn, they could plant
  it and expect a corn crop to grow during the
  summer. Farming is to intentionally grow a food
  crop in a certain area. Its a huge break-
  through for the Native Americans. They could let
  the food come to them!

2
Woodland (1000 B.C.- 1000 A.D.)

• Because food was easier to get, the need for
  movement was reduced. The groups of bands (of the
  Archaic period) grew to be tribes (200-400) of
  people by the Woodland period.

3
Woodland (1,000 B.C.- 1000 A.D.)

• Technology
• Bow and Arrow for hunting small game such as
  deer or squirrel.
• Dart/Blow Gun for hunting very small game such
  as birds, rabbits, etc.
• Question Why would these new weapons be an
  improvement for hunting over the use of the
  atl-atl for hunting deer or rabbits? (Hint think
  about the delivery)

4
Woodland (1,000 B.C.- 1000 A.D.)

• Technology The people who lived during the
  Woodland era were much different from their
  ancestors during the Paleo and Archaic time
  periods. Why?
• Tribal Growth For the first time in history, man
  learned a very important skill he could plant a
  seed, fertilize it, and wait for it to grow into
  something edible. The fear of starvation was
  lessened considerably. It also encouraged
  tribes to stay in one place. These tribes could
  be 200-300 people. The main farm crop was corn.

5
Woodland (1000 B.C.- 1000 A.D.)

• Horticulture Techniques
• Girdling This is the process of cutting down a
  tree with a stone axe. The Woodland Indian would
  cut a circle around the base of the tree trunk.
  Eventually, the tree would die, and could be
  pushed over easily.
• Slash Burn This process involves cutting away
  all vegetation on the ground, and then burning
  it. The soil can then be used for planting, or
  allowed to grow back naturally. The young plants
  that grow there attract deer, rabbits, etc.
  because those plants are the best to eat!

6
Woodland Landmark

• One of the signs of the Woodland period in
  Georgia is the Rock Eagle Effigy Mound. (Effigy
  means form or in the image). This is near
  Eatonton, GA (near Covington).
• Quartz Rocks were piled 10 ft. high, 102 feet in
  length, and 120 ft. wide.
• Archaeologists think Rock Eagle might have been
  used as a religious center for many groups in the
  area.
• Question Why would an eagle be a good choice
  for a religious meeting area? (Hint what
  characteristics would an eagle have that humans
  might wish to emulate?)

7
(No Transcript)
8
Woodland Wonderings

• QUESTIONS TO PONDER
• Which is the best description of the Woodland
  Indians?
• --Food Gatherer
• --Hunting Farmer
• --Master Farmer
• What was the purpose for Rock Eagle?
• Why did the Woodland Indians change their style
  of weapons? (Hint think about the delivery of
  the arrow)

9
Mississippian (1000 A.D.-1540 A.D.)

• As time went on, cultures got even better at
  growing food. Where the Woodland Indians grew
  corn (maize), the Mississippian Indians grew a
  variety of crops such as pumpkin, squash, beans,
• and many other crops.

10
Mississippian (1000 A.D.-1540 A.D.)

• Because food was easily provided, group size grew
  to chiefdoms (2000 people) for this tradition.
• The Chief, or mico, was the spiritual political
  of the chiefdom. He could be carried down from
  his mound on a litter (a seat carried between
  two poles by warriors).

11
Mississippian (1000 A.D.-1540 A.D.)

• The chief lived on man-made mounds of dirt. Other
  smaller mounds might be for a lesser chief
  (medicine man) or a burial mound.
• When a chief died, his body house might be
  burned on top on the mound. Then, more dirt would
  be added and the new chief (his son) would live
  on top of the mound.

12
Mississippian (1000 A.D.-1540 A.D.)

• TECHNOLOGY
• The bow and arrow was improved with the
  triangular arrowhead
• Pottery was decorated with patterns. It was also
  made into many different shapes forms.
• In Etowah, Vs of rocks were put in the river
  to force fish to swim through the point of the V

13
Mississippian (1000 A.D.-1540 A.D.)

• LEISURE TIME
• Chunkey- A game in which two spears are thrown
  at a rolling stone. The one that lands closest to
  the stone (without hitting it) would score a
  point.
• Bear Skull- A game in which a skull is tied on
  top of a pole. The two teams try to take a dear
  skin ball and hit the skull with it. If they do,
  they get a point. If not, everyone goes for a
  rebound. Teams try to tackle players with the
  ball and steal it. If a team scores, then the
  other team gets the ball.
• Stick Ball A game like our modern-day of
  lacrosse. Players use two netted sticks to pass
  the ball to teammates to get across a goal.
  Sometimes two chiefdoms might agree to play this
  game to settle a dispute rather than going to war.

14
Mississippian (1000 A.D.-1540 A.D.)

• Famous sites
• Etowah located in NW GA (near Cartersville),
  this site has 7 mounds and used the V trap for
  fishing. The chief would live on the highest
  mound.
• Ocmulgee located in middle GA (near Macon), this
  site also has mounds, including an earth mound
  that was hollow so that meetings could be held in
  there. A raging fire would make it a sweat
  lodge and the Black Drink would make people
  vomit before entering.
• Question Why would sweating and purging with the
  Black Drink be used at these meetings? (Hint
  think about symbolism)

15
Mississippians

• Survival wasnt a constant concern so they had
  time for other pursuits, like
• Elaborate ceremonies with elaborate headdresses
  and costumes.
• Beautiful jewelry to adorn themselves, show
  status.
• Tattoos, also to adorn themselves, show status.
• Fortifications, like moats palisades to protect
  their cities from enemies.

16
Mississippian Musings

• QUESTIONS TO PONDER
• Which is the best description of the
  Mississippian Indians?
• --Food Gatherer
• --Hunting Farmer
• --Master Farmer
• What was the purpose for the Earth lodge?
• 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 living up there?