ANTH 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Indigenous Peoples Of The Eastern Woodlands, Woodland Period, Paleo-Indians
Document Summary
Societies in the early americas were sometimes ruled by chiefs and high-society communities / groups of power. Lineages and individuals are ranked according to their relationship to the chief. Mississippian period (intensive maize farming) 1000ad 1539+ad (european contact) Maize becomes a major crop by 1000ad and is grown intensively (as well as beans and squash) Shell-tempered pottery, stone hoes, bows and arrows introduced. Population grew rapidly large, complex communities began to appear. Some were organized by chiefdoms (centralized political systems with hereditary leaders) Enclosed with large defensive wall (rebuilt several times) Monks mound largest prehistoric structure in north america (flat-topped pyramid), height of 10 story building, platform mound. (bigger than pyramid of giza) Chief buried on shell-bean cape (chunky stone, arrow heads) mound 72 elite burials. Power: agricultural production, pivotal role in regional exchange network, religious ideology, tribute and labor. Ideological system that emerges after 1200ad and spreads throughout eastern woodlands.
