THE GALLERY

PALEO PERIOD 12000 BC - 8500 BC

The Paleo Period is the oldest of American time periods and existed from around 12,000 BC to 8500 BC. While the pre-history of other continents such as Europe, Asia, and Africa date back many millennia further, American history begins with Paleo man. More

ARCHAIC PERIOD 8500 BC - 1000BC

With the large herd animals now extinct, the climate warming, and the human population growing rapidly, the beginning of the Archaic Period had begun. The Archaic Period is often referred to as the time of the, "hunters and gatherers". More

WOODLAND PERIOD 1000 BC - 900 AD

Woodland people learned and utilized agricultural techniques and produced large varieties of maize and other crops as a substantial part of their food source. The Woodland Period saw cultures such as the Adena and Hopewell who would learn to build earthen burial and ceremonial mounds. More

MISSISSIPPIAN PERIOD 900 AD - 1650 AD

During the Mississippian Period there were settlements that ranged from small farmsteads to huge villages and ceremonial centers, and a population that now rivaled other places around the world. The village centers had fortified walls for protection from raiding parties and some even had guard towers such as the city Cahokia located near St. Louis. More

HISTORIC PERIOD 1650 AD 1900 AD

As the natives once again spread out across the countryside, banding together into the tribes we know today, the increasing contact with Europeans brought about other changes significant to the daily lives of the natives - the foremost of these being trade. More 

PRE-COLUMBIAN CULTURES

Pre-Columbian cultures are those people who lived south of the  modern day United States before the arrival of Columbus. The three most notable Pre-Columbian civilizations were those of the Aztec, Maya,  and Inca. More