““Prehistoric Pennsylvania”Prehistoric Pennsylvania”

I. Prehistory versus HistoryI. Prehistory versus History

A. A prehistoric society or culture that was A. A prehistoric society or culture that was without a without a written alphabetwritten alphabet..

B. History began in Pennsylvania with B. History began in Pennsylvania with European European contactcontact (the Europeans had a written (the Europeans had a written alphabet). In western Pennsylvania, this alphabet). In western Pennsylvania, this occurred in the late 1600s.occurred in the late 1600s.

C. If they did not write how do we know anything about them C. If they did not write how do we know anything about them and how did they communicate.and how did they communicate. 1.1. Prehistoric societies do not really lack a history. Prehistoric societies do not really lack a history. Some of what we know about prehistoric societies comes Some of what we know about prehistoric societies comes from from oral historiesoral histories, which is when knowledge of the past , which is when knowledge of the past is passed from generation to generation orally. is passed from generation to generation orally. 2. They also used 2. They also used non-verbalnon-verbal communication methods. communication methods. For example, they used pictographs on trails on trees or For example, they used pictographs on trails on trees or on cave walls.on cave walls.

D. Prehistory is the realm of the Anthropologist D. Prehistory is the realm of the Anthropologist and Archaeologist.and Archaeologist.

E. E. Anthropologist: Anthropologist: one who conducts the scientific one who conducts the scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of physical, social, and cultural development of humans.humans.

F. F. Archaeologist: Archaeologist: one who conducts the scientific one who conducts the scientific study of historic or prehistoric peoples and their study of historic or prehistoric peoples and their cultures by analysis of their artifacts, cultures by analysis of their artifacts, inscriptions, monuments, and other such inscriptions, monuments, and other such remains, esp. those that have been excavated.remains, esp. those that have been excavated.

G.G. These scholars, however, encounter several These scholars, however, encounter several limitations in their work.limitations in their work.

1.1. Th They have a limited idea of what life what like ey have a limited idea of what life what like because they can only study the because they can only study the artifacts artifacts that that have been found in an archaeological dig. have been found in an archaeological dig.

2. Also, many objects do not survive. Perishables 2. Also, many objects do not survive. Perishables do not survive but man made objects usually do do not survive but man made objects usually do survive. Lastly, carbonized material survives survive. Lastly, carbonized material survives

(objects burned in a fire) for scholars to study.(objects burned in a fire) for scholars to study.

II. Native American Cultural GroupsII. Native American Cultural Groups

A. A. Paleo-IndiansPaleo-Indians – 14,000 B.C. – 8,000 B.C. – 14,000 B.C. – 8,000 B.C.1. Lived in Pennsylvania at the time of the last Ice Age. 1. Lived in Pennsylvania at the time of the last Ice Age.

By 10,600 B.C., the glaciers had retreated from By 10,600 B.C., the glaciers had retreated from Pennsylvania. The northern portion of PA was Pennsylvania. The northern portion of PA was tundra; however, the southern region was a blend tundra; however, the southern region was a blend

of fir and spruce forests and open grasslands.of fir and spruce forests and open grasslands.

2. These people were 2. These people were hunter/gathershunter/gathers and they also and they also moved as the seasons progressed to take advantage moved as the seasons progressed to take advantage of the environment. of the environment.

3. The mammals that exist today were encountered by 3. The mammals that exist today were encountered by Paleo-Indians; however, there were mastodons, Paleo-Indians; however, there were mastodons, mammoths, musk ox, caribou, deer, elk and moose.mammoths, musk ox, caribou, deer, elk and moose.

B. B. Archaic Period Archaic Period – 8,000 B.C. – 1,000 B.C. – 8,000 B.C. – 1,000 B.C. 1. During this time a warming of the environment 1. During this time a warming of the environment

occurred. The trees begin to resemble what we see occurred. The trees begin to resemble what we see

today.today.

2. The people developed new substance 2. The people developed new substance strategies. strategies.

a. a. TradingTrading begins with goods like begins with goods like flint or obsidian. This contact with other people flint or obsidian. This contact with other people changed people’s lives.changed people’s lives.

b. Some b. Some copper copper working began. The working began. The copper sheets were worked into flat sheets and copper sheets were worked into flat sheets and made into jewelry or weapons. made into jewelry or weapons.

c. c. Horticulture: Horticulture: the planting of wild the planting of wild seeds from wild plants occurred. Squash was the seeds from wild plants occurred. Squash was the plant of choice. The seeds were collected and just plant of choice. The seeds were collected and just planted.planted.

3. Many of the people were settled 3. Many of the people were settled around the three major river systems of around the three major river systems of Pennsylvania and their tributaries: Pennsylvania and their tributaries: Delaware, Susquehanna, and Allegheny.Delaware, Susquehanna, and Allegheny.

C. C. Woodland Indians - Woodland Indians - 1,000 B.C. – A.D. 1700 1,000 B.C. – A.D. 17001. This is the blossoming of culture and technology. 1. This is the blossoming of culture and technology.

The presence of The presence of ceramic potteryceramic pottery shows the shows the difference between the Woodland period and the difference between the Woodland period and the Archaic. Archaic.

2. 2. There are examples of large mound building that may There are examples of large mound building that may have been for burials or for ceremonies.have been for burials or for ceremonies.

3. 3. Agriculture Agriculture began with began with corn, beans corn, beans andand native native squash.squash. These three crops were known as the These three crops were known as the Three Sisters.Three Sisters.

4. There is a beginning of increasing cultural 4. There is a beginning of increasing cultural distinctiveness. We begin to see what we know as distinctiveness. We begin to see what we know as tribestribes. The tribes evolved from the extended family . The tribes evolved from the extended family groups. groups.

5. As people crowd into semi-permit villages 5. As people crowd into semi-permit villages diseasesdiseases begin to spread, most notably diseases like begin to spread, most notably diseases like tuberculosis.tuberculosis.

6. There are some commonalities among Woodland 6. There are some commonalities among Woodland Indians. Many are farming, the bow and arrow is Indians. Many are farming, the bow and arrow is common, and pottery. There is increased conflict common, and pottery. There is increased conflict after 1000 A.D. after 1000 A.D. Palisade villages Palisade villages have become have become common.common.

III. Overview of Major Prehistoric Cultural Groups in III. Overview of Major Prehistoric Cultural Groups in Pennsylvania after 1000 A.D.Pennsylvania after 1000 A.D.

A. These people are named after the physical A. These people are named after the physical locations where they were found. locations where they were found.

B. Owasco, Clemsons Island, Munsee & B. Owasco, Clemsons Island, Munsee & Overpeck, Shenks Ferry, Monongahela, Overpeck, Shenks Ferry, Monongahela, McFate.McFate.

C. By the year 1500, there were some common patterns C. By the year 1500, there were some common patterns developing among these Native groups. developing among these Native groups.

1. The villages were dominated by 1. The villages were dominated by females females due to gendered labor due to gendered labor divisions. divisions.

2. Villages were inhabited by women for most of the year.2. Villages were inhabited by women for most of the year.

3. 3. MenMen were hunting and fishing in camps in the spring, fall and were hunting and fishing in camps in the spring, fall and early winter. Also, early winter. Also, warfarewarfare in the summers may have drawn in the summers may have drawn men from the villages. men from the villages.

4. Only in the mid- to late 4. Only in the mid- to late winter winter were both sexes at home for were both sexes at home for

extended periods of time.extended periods of time.

IV. Arrival of Europeans ushers in Protohistoric and Historic periods (1500s) IV. Arrival of Europeans ushers in Protohistoric and Historic periods (1500s)

and cause and cause tremendous turmoiltremendous turmoil among native people among native people..

A. A. Introduced DiseasesIntroduced Diseases like small pox, measles, like small pox, measles, and influenza. These diseases killed slowly and influenza. These diseases killed slowly overtime and the survivors mingled with other overtime and the survivors mingled with other groups. groups.

B. Fur trade and B. Fur trade and dependencydependency on European on European goodsgoods. . 1. Native people trapped beaver (for hats) and hunted 1. Native people trapped beaver (for hats) and hunted

deer (for leather). deer (for leather).

2. They traded the furs for European goods, which 2. They traded the furs for European goods, which

they become dependent on European goods.they become dependent on European goods.

C. The overhunting of animals and the desire for C. The overhunting of animals and the desire for European goods leads to warfare among some European goods leads to warfare among some Indian groups. Indian groups.

D. Mourning War becomes common. D. Mourning War becomes common. 1. 1. Mourning WarMourning War returns the spiritual essence of their returns the spiritual essence of their

lost family members by capturing other people.lost family members by capturing other people.

E. The 1600s were terrible for Pennsylvania E. The 1600s were terrible for Pennsylvania natives.natives.

F. By the 1700s in western Pennsylvania, many F. By the 1700s in western Pennsylvania, many Indians had died off. Most of the Indians Indians had died off. Most of the Indians living in western Pennsylvania in the 1750s living in western Pennsylvania in the 1750s were refugees (Delaware and Shawnee). were refugees (Delaware and Shawnee).

G. Climate Change: the “Little Ice Age” begins. G. Climate Change: the “Little Ice Age” begins. Globally, there is an overall cooling that Globally, there is an overall cooling that began around 1350 A.D.began around 1350 A.D.

Serpent Mound in Ohio