The First Inhabitants

Chapter 2 Section 1

The First Inhabitants

Introduction• Scientists believe the

first people came to America across the Bering Strait.

• The climate was colder and the land was covered with trees, mastodons, and other animals.

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Paleolithic (Old Stone)10,000 BC – 7000 BC

• Using only stone-tipped weapons, Paleolithic hunters killed mammoth and other large animals.

• Stone and slate could easily be turned into weapons

• Some of their spear points have been found in the mountains of Stanly county.

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Archaic7000 BC – 500 BC

• People began to forage for food such as wild game, nuts and berries and made dishes like pemmican.

• Flint tools became more complex, resulting in scrapers and spears (atlatl). Elongated river rocks were made into hammers also.

• Communities began as survival skills improved.

• Spring – lived on the Coast; Winter – lived near the fall line

Fall Line

atlatl

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Woodland 10,000 BC – 1000 AD

• Corn, beans, and squash (“3 sisters”) were grown together

• Made clay pottery• Lived in circular houses

in village communities in the Uwharries (Pee Dee River)

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Mississippian800 AD – 1500 AD

• People were influenced by the culture of settlers from along the Mississippi River.

• The Mississippians held ceremonies, led by priests, where they ate boiled corn and drunk black tea (Green Corn Ceremony)

• Made clay pottery• Town Creek Indian Mound

(Pee Dee River) was a ceremonial center

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