Indigenous peoples of the Eastern Woodlands
The Eastern Woodlands is a cultural area of the
Background
The earliest known inhabitants of the Eastern Woodlands were peoples of the Adena and Hopewell cultures, the term for a variety of peoples, speaking different languages, who inhabited the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys between 800 BC and 800 AD, and were connected by trading and communication routes.[3] The cultures had a tradition of building earthwork mounds and, in some cases, large shaped constructions known as effigy mounds. They had a variety of purposes, some apparently related to astronomical calculations and ritual observances.[4]
These peoples were generally hunters and gatherers, while also relying on some farming to produce food on the fertile land in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys.[4] Because of this reliance on farming, these tribes did not migrate like the more northern Eastern Woodlands tribes and instead stayed in one place, which resulted in them developing new social and political structures.[5]
The Eastern Woodlands tribes located further north (Algonquian-speaking people) relied heavily on hunting to acquire food.[4] These tribes did not plant many crops, however, some tribes, such as the historic Ojibwe, grew wild rice and relied on it as one of their major food sources.[2] The type of animals these tribes hunted depended on the geographic location of the tribe.[5] For example, the tribes located close to the coast hunted seals, porpoises, and whales, while the more inland tribes hunted deer, moose, and caribou.[2][6] The meat was either cooked to be eaten immediately or was smoke-dried, to preserve it for later consumption.[6]
The largest political unit among the Eastern Woodland tribes were village bands, which were led by one chief.
See also
References
- ISBN 9781588104519.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Charles A. Bishop; Zach Parrott (December 21, 2017). "Eastern Woodlands Indigenous Peoples in Canada". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ^ "Eastern Woodland Culture". www.u-s-history.com. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Eastern Woodlands Indians". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ^ a b "The Eastern Woodland Indians Culture in the Northeast". www.native-art-in-canada.com. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c "The Eastern Woodland Hunters - Food / Hunting / Tools". firstpeoplesofcanada.com. Retrieved April 27, 2019.