AMERICA'S FIRST PEOPLE

During the last Pleistocene geological period, commonly known as the Ice Age, the climate changed dramatically at least four times. Glaciers grew, temperatures dropped, and in some places precipitation increased. Deserts and barren land became swamps and grassy meadows. As the sea level fell, a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska appeared. The Bering Strait land bridge was exposed at least twice during the last glacier period, once between 50,000 to 40,000 years ago, and again between 28,000 and 10,000 years ago. There is some evidence, though controversial, that the first people to inhabit America came from Asia across this land bridge about 45,000 years ago.

Another controversial theory is that early people came by sea across the ice fields of the North Pacific. Some evidence has emerged recently suggesting that another migration may have occurred about 7,000—8,000 years ago across the ice fields of the North Atlantic from Europe. There is no doubt, however, that a migration occurred when the Bering Strait was exposed the last time. These first people to set foot on this continent, probably over 20,000 years ago, have come to be known as Native Americans.

THE SOUTHEAST

Native Americans migrated to the Southeastern portion of North America over 14,000 years ago. Over the course of many centuries, a highly developed culture evolved. With the advent of agriculture, and a plentiful supply of fish, shellfish and game, these people became more sedentary. They established complex social, political and religious structures and built well-planned townships with earthen mounds and shell middens. Wide-spread and long-distance trade relationships enabled them to improve their standard of living.

Many archaeological sites in the Eastern United States show evidence of continuous occupation for over 10,000 years. The impact of the arrival of Europeans during the Contact Period was devastating to Native Americans, particularly in the Southeast. Greed, brutality, betrayal and new diseases brought from the “Old World” of Europe were major factors not only in the decline in Native American populations, but also in the virtual loss of many of their cultural and artistic traditions.

Desoto, LaSalle and other Europeans came face-to-face with the Mound Builders of the Southeast. Their interest in them was not to learn, understand and honor, but to conquer and exploit. While the Southwest and Northwest remained untouched for many hundreds of years, the Southeast was changed forever by these first encounters.

pre-9,000 BC     Paleo Indian Period

Ice Age hunters arrive in the Southeast, leaving one of their distinctive "Clovis" spear points on the Macon Plateau (in the 1930's this became the first such artifact found in-site in the southern U.S.).

8,000-9,000 BC    Transitional Period

People adjust to gradually warming weather as the glaciers melt and many Ice Age mammals become extinct.

1,000-8,000 BC    Archaic Period

Efficient hunting/gathering; adaptation to a climate much like today; use of the atlatl (spear thrower), woodworking tools, etc.; white-tail deer becomes a staple; extensive shell mounds along the coast and some inland rivers.

2,500 BC

2,500 BC First pottery in this country appears along the Georgia/ Carolina coast and soon filters into what is now Middle Georgia; it is tempered or strengthened with plant fibers which burn out during firing, giving a worm-hole appearance to the vessel surface.

1,000 BC-AD 900    Woodland Period

Pottery tempered with sand and grit, sometimes decorated with elaborate designs incised, punctated or stamped into its surface before firing; cultivation of sunflowers, gourds, and several other plants; construction of semi-permanent villages; stone effigy mounds and earthen burial and platform mounds. Connected cultures were Adena and Hopewell farther North, and the Weeden Island culture in Florida and South Georgia.


Panther Effigy
Kolomoki Mounds, GA



A.D. 900-1150    Early Mississippian Period

A new way of life, believed to have originated in the Mississippi River area appears on the Macon Plateau. These people, whose pottery is different from that made by the Woodland cultures in the area, construct a large ceremonial center with huge earthen temple, burial and domiciliary mounds, and earth lodges, which served as formal council chambers. Their economy is supported by agriculture, with corn, beans, squash and other crops planted in the rich river floodplain. Indigenous Woodland people in surrounding areas interact with these people, who possess early symbols and artifacts associated with the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex (Southern Cult).


Little Ocmulgee Man


1150-1350    Mature Mississippian Period

The great Macon Plateau town declines and the Lamar and Stubbs Mounds and Villages appear just downstream. These towns are a combination of the old Woodland culture and Mississippian ideas. The Southern Cult, distinguished by flamboyant artistic motifs and specialized artifacts, flourishes at places like Roods Landing and Etowah (GA), Moundville (AL), Hiwassee Island (TN), Cahokia (IL), and Spiro (OK).


Cylindrical Beaker
Moundville, AL



1350-1650    Late Mississippian Period (Protohistoric)

The Lamar Culture, named for the Lamar Mounds and Village Unit of Ocmulgee National Monument, becomes widespread in the Southeast; chiefdoms marked by smaller, more numerous, often stockaded villages with a ceremonial center marked by one or two mounds; combination of the both Woodland and Mississippian elements.



Calusa Panther Effigy
Key Marco Island, FL



1540

Chroniclers of the Hernando DeSoto expedition into the interior of North America write the first descriptions of the Lamar and related cultures, ancestors of the historic Creek (Muscogean), Cherokee (Iroquoian), Yuchi (Euchee), and other Southeastern people. Most of their main towns are situated near rich river bottomland fields of corn, beans and squash. Many towns feature open plazas and earthen temple mounds. Public buildings and homes are constructed of upright logs, interwoven with vines or cane and plastered with clay (wattle and daub). Some are elaborately decorated and contain large woodcarvings. The DeSoto expedition’s 600 men and 300 horses devastate local food supplies; epidemics of European diseases decimate many populations.

1565

The Spanish establish their first permanent settlement at St. Augustine, set up outposts at towns along the Atlantic coast to the North, and begin to missionize the Indians. Priests and soldiers travel up the river systems to other towns in the interior of the area, which would later become Georgia.

Source: National Park Service