Georgia’s Prehistoric Past

1. Georgia’s Prehistoric Past

2. Use Your Book to Define These Vocabulary Words • archaeologist • prehistory • artifact • Carbon 14 dating • ecofact • sherd • atlatl • effigy

3. What Does Prehistory or Prehistoric Mean? • Prehistoric means before written records were kept. • People began migrating to Georgia from Asia across a land bridge called Beringia over 12,000 years ago. • These prehistoric people came during the Ice Age when much of the Earth’s surface was frozen, following herds of huge mammals for their food.

5. Archaeology • If people arrived in Georgia so long ago, how do we know about them? • Scientists called archaeologists study the physical evidence called artifacts left by these ancient people to learn about them. • Some examples of artifacts are arrowheads and sherds (bits of broken pottery). • To find the age of an artifact, archaeologists use a technique called carbon-14 dating.

6. Into Georgia • By 10,000 BC, prehistoric people had arrived in Georgia. • There are four prehistoric cultural periods of Georgia history: • Paleo Indians • Archaic Indians • Woodland Indians • Mississippian Indians

7. Mounds • Beginning in the Woodland Period the Indians began building mounds for ceremonies and burials.

8. Effigy Mounds • Effigy mounds are mounds built in the shape of animals. Rock Eagle is an example.

9. Mississippian Culture • The Mississippian Period (AD 1000-1600) was the highest point of prehistoric culture. • Villages were palisaded for protection and people lived in wattle and daub houses. • Governments were organized into chiefdoms ruled by a chief. • Maize (corn) was still the main crop and the bow and arrow the most used weapon.