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800 – 200 BC Development
of Conical Mounds 

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800 – 200 BC Development
of Conical Mounds 

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The development of Conical Mounds in the Eastern Woodlands suggests a change in social relationships. These mounds were used for “rich ceremonial life that included elaborate burials, graveside rituals, and aesthetically pleasing artifacts fashioned from widely traded materials” (Scarre).

Many times there were clear differences in mounds. Some mounds would be clearly plainer than others and would have less valuable and rare grave goods within them. This suggests that one’s importance was shown through the value of the grave goods placed with them during their burials.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Accessed December 10, 2014.

Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Lochan_and_Conical_Mound_-_geograph.org.uk_-_602134.jpg

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Excavations at Adena and Middle Woodland societies suggests that craft specialization was occurring. These societies are known for “finely crafted artifacts that indicated a broadening and deepening of contacts among widely separated groups” (Scarre).

For instance, copper would travel from the Great Lakes. Mica was traded from the southern Appalachians. Colorful chert and pipestone came from the Midwest and marine shells from the south Atlantic and Gulf coasts (Scarre).

It has been suggested that because of the widespread distribution of these rare items, that people would travel far distances to collect them. Suggesting that there were deep connections development between far-away tribes.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Accessed December 10, 2014.

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AD 400 – 1000 Increased
Tensions Between Communities

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AD 400 – 1000 Increased
Tensions Between Communities

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During the Late Woodland Period, evidence suggests that tensions were rising between communities. “The appearance in the archaeological record of small triangular stone projectiles suggest that the bow and arrow may have been adopted” (Pluckhahn) during this time. These appeared in large numbers.

The appearance of these weapons is evidence of warfare. People had died fighting amongst communities. This eventually led to “the formation of politically and militarily formidable groups” (Scarre).

Pluckhahn, Thomas. “Woodland Period: Overview” Accessed December 10, 2014. http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/woodland-period-overview

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Accessed December 10,2014.

Image: http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/remington-indian-warfare-granger.jpg

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Found during excavations at Snaketown about 30 miles south east of Phoenix, Arizona was a large uncovered depression within the earth. It was described as a ball court because of its similarities to the ball courts in Mesoamerica. Little is truly known about the usage of the ball courts, other than for the game. It is not clear whether there were ritualistic events occurring or if they were simply used to promote peace within neighboring communities.

Although there is very little know, this does suggest that there may have been communications between North America and Mesoamerica.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Accessed December 10, 2014.

Image: http://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/wp-content/gallery/pieces-of-the-puzzle/p1sign024.gif

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Categorized as a “powerful state featuring considerable political centralization and economic specialization” (Scarre), Cahokia is known as the largest and most impressive Native American achievement. Covering about six square miles, Cahokia is estimated to have had about 40,000 people living here at its peak.

Over 120 mounds had been built here, and many of which had been expanded as time passed. “Houses were arranged in rows and around open plazas, and vast agricultural fields lay outside the city” (Cahokia Mounds).

Many have argued that it could be labeled as a chiefdom, albeit an unusually colossal and unyielding one. Evidence that high-ranked people worn precious items, such as ornaments, shows a clear distinction between them and commoners. Even with this being said, there does not seem to be a huge social separation between chiefs and the people. It seemed that connection and communication was a large part within the culture during this time.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Accessed December 10, 2014.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. “Welcome to Cahokia Mounds”. Accessed December 10, 2014. http://cahokiamounds.org/learn/

Image: http://s.ngm.com/2011/01/cahokia/img/01-cahokia-central-plaza-615.jpg

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AD 750 – 900 Alkalai
Ridge and McPhee Village

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AD 750 – 900 Alkalai
Ridge and McPhee Village

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These two sites are an example of some of the first relatively permanent settlements during the Pueblo I. These homes had “clusters of surface rooms and adjoining pithouses that indicated populations exceeding 100 residents”. These rooms were usually built using a jacal structure with posts and mud plaster.

There is evidence that during this time many groups were switching back and forth between farming and foraging according to the ecological and demographic conditions. But these sites suggest that many were starting to make the permanent transition to farming.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Accessed December 10, 2014.

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AD 1000 – 1150 The
Discovery of Chocolate

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AD 1000 – 1150 The
Discovery of Chocolate

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During excavations Patricia Crown and Jeffrey Hurst found chocolate residue within cylindrical jars dating as far back as AD 1000. This suggests that the Native American people had discovered Chocolate long before the Europeans arrived.

“The acquisition and preparation of chocolate was a high-cost endeavor requiring specialized knowledge and equipment (Scarre). This says that it is highly likely that the elite ranking members were of those who had access to chocolate. It is likely that chocolate was also used during exclusive events and in rituals to affirm elite status.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Accessed December 10, 2014.

Image: http://sarafresh.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Cacao.jpeg

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AD 1000 – 1600 Human
Sacrifices for Highly Ranked People

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AD 1000 – 1600 Human
Sacrifices for Highly Ranked People

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Some mounds during the Mississippian Period housed human sacrifices. Along with rare and highly valuable grave goods, this clearly suggests that ritualistic human sacrifice was a known practice during the burial of highly ranked people. This practice continued into historic times and was a way to show respect to those who passed. These burials also included “items fashioned from precious materials; including marine shell and copper”. Only the finest materials available ended up in the graves.

This evidence shows that the culture during the Mississippian Period greatly valued those of highly ranked positions. It also shows clear social complexity. Those who were simply commoners were put up for sacrifice to appease the highly ranked deceased.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Accessed December 10, 2014.

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Norris Farms #36 is is a village cemetery in west-central Illinois that contained the bodies ambush victims, both men and woman. These victims had been “shot with arrows, clubbed with axes, and mutilated by the removal of scalps, heads, and limbs” (Scarre). Since there are multiple people in each grave, it suggests that these people were killed at the same time. Possibly running away from the attackers. This clearly indicate a rise of deep, and violent tension among the northern tribes.

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Accessed December 10, 2014.

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Upon excavations at Craig Mound in Spiro, the Great Mortuary was discovered. Already having been looted by a mining company who called themselves the Pocola Mining Company had acquired the lease for the site. From years 1933 until 1935 Pocola destroyed the mound and sold about a third of the rare artifacts held within.

In 1936, the University of Oklahoma was able to start a scientific excavation of the site. There they discovered an impressive array of grave goods. This artifacts included “marine shell cups, tens of thousands of shell beads, and carved wooden figurines and masks”. Many have said that these masks had been carved to look like something not human. One of the masks had deer antlers. Chris Scarre said that these masks seem to represent something “more fiction than fact”.

This suggests that the people during the Mississippian may have worshipped creature-like gods and created art to represent that faith.

Peterson, Dennis. “Spiro Mounds”. Accessed December 10, 2014. http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/S/SP012.html

Scarre, Chris. The Human Past. Accessed December 10, 2014.

Image: http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/tejas/fundamentals/images/craig-mound.jpg

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This timeline was created for a Cascadia Community College Assignement.

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