Archaic North American Culture
Archaic North American Culture refers to a significant prehistoric period characterized by diverse foraging patterns and a nomadic lifestyle, spanning approximately from 8000 to 2000 B.C.E. This era is subdivided into three main phases: Early, Middle, and Late Archaic. The Early Archaic period (8000-6000 B.C.E.) marks a transition from Pleistocene adaptations to new Holocene ecological strategies, featuring short-term camps and notable artifacts like large projectile points associated with the Northwest Microblade Tradition.
The Middle Archaic (6000-4000 B.C.E.) reflects a shift towards reduced mobility and a heavy reliance on aquatic resources, particularly in the southeastern regions of the continent. Sites from this period often yield substantial remains of fish and shellfish. The Late Archaic (circa 4000-2500 B.C.E.) showcases longer occupation of sites with evidence of early plant domestication, including gourds and sunflowers, along with the development of simple pottery. The Archaic period is foundational to understanding the cultural evolution of later groups, such as the Plains Peoples, highlighting the importance of this era in North American prehistory.
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Archaic North American Culture
Related civilizations: California peoples, Dalton tradition, Eastern peoples, Northwest Microblade tradition, Middle Woodland tradition, Plains peoples, Plateau peoples, Southwest peoples, Subarctic peoples.
Date: c. 8000-2500 b.c.e.
Locale: North America
Archaic North American Culture
The Archaic period of North America is characterized by generalized foraging patterns and a mobile lifestyle. The Archaic can be divided into three subperiods: Early, Middle, and Late. The Early Archaic dates from 8000 to 6000 b.c.e. and represents the transition from adaptations to the Pleistocene climate to Holocene ecological strategies. Early Archaic sites are typically short-term camps with minimal artifactual remains. The distinguishing characteristic is the presence of large side- and corner-notched projectile points; some of these tools are part of the Northwest Microblade Tradition. The Middle Archaic, dating from 6000 to 4000 b.c.e., represents a period of decreasing mobility and the intensive utilization of aquatic resources, particularly in the southeastern United States. Middle Archaic sites in this area often contain large amounts of fish and shellfish remains with lesser amounts of other fauna represented. During the Late Archaic, circa 4000 to 2500 b.c.e., sites were occupied for prolonged periods and contain the remains of early domesticated plants, such as gourds, goosefoot, sumpweed, and sunflowers. Early pottery from Georgia, generally without decoration and fiber-tempered, also dates to the Late, or Terminal, Archaic period. The Archaic period in North America is significant in that it is the foundation of the traditions of later cultures in the area, such as the Plains Peoples.
Bibliography
Fagan, Brian M. Ancient North America: The Archaeology of a Continent. London: Thames and Hudson, 1995.
Fagan, Brian M. Oxford Companion to Archaeology. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.
Jennings, Jesse D. Prehistoric North America. Mountain View, Calif.: Mayfield, 1989.