Early Farmers
Unlike the previous and future cultural periods, the Woodland period is the most completely indigenous culture ever to exist in eastern North America. The Paleo-Indian, Archaic, and Mississippian periods were either present in other parts of the world or influenced from elsewhere. The Woodland period is often characterized by increasing cultural complexity, population growth, and innovative inventions. During this time, various types of seeds and nuts were gathered extensively and stored in underground pits. This storage technique indicates the people of the Woodland period lived more sedentary lives. This is further supported by the first clear evidence of semi-permanent settlements being found in the archeological record.
NPS Photo
NPS Photo
NPS Photo
The collective developments of semi-permanent camps, better-quality pottery, surplus food, and improved weapons and tools marked changes in society that were vastly different from how people had lived up to that point. The nomadic lifestyle led by the previous inhabitants was gradually abandoned and replaced with a more community-like structure. People gradually stopped wandering the land searching for resources and instead began establishing routes from their camp to the source location. These changes set the stage for the developments that would take place in the Mississippian period.