The archaeological is the name of a period in the history of the American continent. It is a stage in which man began to manipulate and develop basic tools that helped in his survival. It is one of the stages that makes up the lithic period and that precedes the formative or pre-classical stage in America.
The word "archaeological" comes from the Greek, specifically from the union between the terms "ancient" and "stone", which is why it is used as a synonym for Stone Age. This stage includes everything that has happened on the American continent since humans first appeared on it. It lasts over a long period, although there is no established agreement on its exact duration.
Poverty Point, in the United States, was formed during the archaeological period. United States Army Corps of Engineers.
During this time, different cultures developed in different areas of America. For example, the Chinchorro culture appeared in Peru and Chile. They were the first to mummify, and were mainly engaged in fishing.
On the other hand, the Caral culture, in Peru, developed in the late Archaic, reaching the Formative period. With them began the construction of large cities with monuments.
Furthermore, several important archaeological sites date back to the archaeological period. Poverty Point, in northeastern Louisiana in the United States, is currently a National Monument, but in the past it was believed to be a place for religious ceremonies. Prehistoric earthworks are observed at Poverty Point.
In Chile, the site of Chan Chan is located, where in the archaeological period there was a tradition of burying people on a bed of ash and in a fetal position. There is also the Coxcatlán cave, known as the Cueva del Maíz, in Mexico, or the circular arrangement of Watson Brake.
On the other hand, some coastal sites dating back to the archeolithic era may have disappeared as a result of rising sea levels.
Origin
Archeology has worked over the years to be able to define the exact dates of each stage of human history, but with such ancient periods this task is difficult to perform.
It is known that the archeolithic is the first of the cultures after the postglacial era. The dates and characteristics of this period vary according to the place in America to which reference is made.
In Mesoamerica (Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, part of Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica), the archeolithic is estimated to have elapsed between 3,500 BC and 1,800 BC On the other hand, when speaking of South America it is not a term so widely used. In Peru, for example, they speak more of the Pre-ceramic period.
In North America, the Archaeolithic was divided into three stages: the early archaeological, the middle archaeological, and the late. The archaeological period may have occurred from 8,000 BC to 1,000 BC. During this time, Europe experienced what is known as the Neolithic period.
The early archeolithic is estimated to have started at the end of the last ice age, which caused sea levels to rise and flood the Beringia Bridge. Climate change then became the main cause for the transition to the archaeological, which came to an end at the beginning of the pre-classic period. In this appear ceramics, large-scale agriculture and the first villages.
characteristics
In the archaeological period, human groups are small, and there are no differences at the social level. These groups did not yet know the economic aspect, since commerce did not yet exist as a trade. During this stage, humans were dedicated to collecting roots and vegetables, hunting and fishing, which became methods of survival.
The tools that were made during this time had a wide variety of uses. Stone tools such as punches and graters existed. Wood and bones were also important. Axes and hammers were made for working with wood. Some tools were also created using animal skins.
As agriculture became of vital importance, sedentarism appeared, since it was vital to monitor crops, although nomadic life is maintained on the coast.
Grinding vegetables, especially grains, made these products easier to chew and digest. Burial rituals began at the end of the archaeological period, and with them arose cemeteries and mummifications.
Weather
The climate during the archaeological period is estimated to have been colder and more humid than what currently exists, as well as being quite stable.
Although, taking into account that the archaeological stage occurs after the last ice age, the climate had become warmer and drier compared to previous times. At this stage it rained in areas that today are deserts.
These great climatic changes brought about important transformations in the lifestyles of humans in the American continent. The hot and dry environment contributed to the extinction of the megafauna that inhabited America during the pre-archaeological periods.
Flora and fauna
The climatic changes that were experienced when the archaeological period began favored the multiplication of forests and grasslands, as well as the presence of lakes. Abundant marine resources were developed, allowing the first humans to sustain their populations.
The archaeological peoples used plants that were easy to store and that, due to their composition, could be handled without major problem. Corn, chili peppers, squash, and beans are some examples.
Also the cultivation of plants meant a great help so that the food supply was prolonged over time and was greater and more reliable.
In Mesoamerica, fossils have been discovered dating from the archaeological period and that correspond to the remains of tapirs, which come from the same family as rhinoceroses, or glyptodonts, related to armadillos (both animals characteristic of hot climates).
On the other hand, at this time there were also mastodons and mammoths, but climate change led to their extinction. There is also evidence of the presence of birds, amphibians and reptiles, showing that the environment was very varied during this period.
References
- Abdul Wahab, M., Ahmad Zakaria, R., Hadrawi, M., & Ramli, Z. (2018). Selected Topics on Archeology, History and Culture in the Malay World. New York: Springer.
- Lohse, Jon & Voorhies, Barbara. (2012). Archaic Mesoamerica.
- Ortz Angulo, A., Orozpe Enriquez, M., & Gonzalez Bobadilla, J. (1998). Introduction to Mesoamerica. Mexico, DF: National Autonomous University of Mexico.
- Schwabedissen, H. (1973). Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Periods. Retrieved from
- Velázquez García, E. (2010). New general history of Mexico. Mexico, DF: The College of Mexico.