The Neo-Indian is the last prehistoric period before the beginning of documented history on the American continent. It is characterized by the emergence of agriculture and the stabilization of settlements.
This caused the settlers to change their nomadic lifestyle for a sedentary one. Another of the great changes that arose at this time was the appearance of ceramics, of which there is evidence dating from around 1000 BC. C.
The appearance of these ceramic remains is what marks the end of the Meso-Indian and the beginning of the Neo-Indian.
This period lasted until approximately the 16th century AD. C., when the first Spanish settlers arrived on the American continent.
It is usually divided into two parts: the early Neo-Indian, until about AD 800; and the late Neo-Indian, until the 16th century.
Main features
The two most important changes of this period were the appearance of pottery, which allowed the settlers to create more complex utensils and tools; and the rise of agriculture, which made them change their nomadic lifestyle for a sedentary one.
Due to the adoption of a sedentary lifestyle, the Neo-Indian constructions were more robust and durable.
Small villages were built, as the villagers stayed in the same place throughout the year.
Nomadism was reduced to a much smaller area. Neo-Indians moved to other places only when their settlement resources ran out.
This could occur due to the impoverishment of the soil or the depletion of natural resources; the latter in the case of the tribes that resorted to hunting or gathering to a greater extent.
The main foods at this time were those that were cultivated: corn, tubers and legumes, among others.
During this period, some important technological innovations were also created, among them the development of the bow and arrow, which allowed a great improvement in hunting conditions and provided the tribes with more advanced weapons.
The greater stability of the tribes also allowed the creation of more elaborate ornaments and promoted the emergence of trade. The evidence suggests that this rudimentary trade was conducted through barter.
Some of the objects that were exchanged were bracelets, statuettes or bowls made of clay.
More attention began to be paid to decorative objects, which in the past could not be preserved due to the nomadic lifestyle.
In the late Neo-Indian, the villages began to gain in size due to the constant increase in population.
Most of these were next to sources of drinking water, such as lakes or rivers; the latter were also used as transportation routes by means of canoes.
The last important feature of this period was the appearance of the first religious temples.
In addition to building the already characteristic monuments and altars, the late Neo-Indians began to develop more complex buildings for religious and spiritual reasons.
References
- "Neo-Indian Period 1,000 BC - 1500 AD" in: The History of the day to day. Retrieved on: December 21, 2017 from La Historia del Día a Día: historiesnovedades.blogspot.com.es
- "Neo - Indian (1000 BC - 1500 AD)" in: Taringa. Retrieved on: December 21, 2017 from Taringa: taringa.net
- "Neo-Indian Period 1,000 BC / 1,500 AD" in: Encyclopedia Culturalia. Retrieved on: December 21, 2017 from Encyclopedia Culturalia: edukavital.blogspot.com.es
- "Prehistoric Cultures" at: Vermillion Parish School. Retrieved on: December 21, 2017 from Vermillion Parish School: vrml.k12.la.us
- "Lousiana Prehistory" in: Louisiana Office of Lieutenant Governor. Retrieved on: December 21, 2017 from Louisiana Office of Lieutenant Governor: crt.state.la.us