North American Archaeology- The Middle Woodland Period in the eastern Essay

North American Archaeology- The Middle Woodland Period in the eastern United States - Essay ExampleThe specific heathenish traits that brought about the distinguishing difference as come up as the explanations as to why the attri scarcees were unsustainable to the former(a) lumber people is discussed below in detail. What cultural traits argon commonly used to define the Middle Woodland as a particularly progressive geological period in comparison to the Early Woodland? at that place are several cultural traits but tout ensemble of which can be attributed to one cultural practice which was one of the most influential in this era and which made this middle woodland period experience immense cultural growth and cultural boom. There were widespread Hopewell practices with influence in the burial ceremonies, settlement, pottery, agriculture, ornament making using different materials among other(a) practices. During the betimes woodland period, burying of the dead was non marked by making mounds on the burial sites but this was introduced during the middle woodland period as a sign of respect and to prevent people from occupying that land. With the changes and improvements in the burial ceremony, there was introduction of mortuaries where bodies and bones of important people were stored awaiting proper burial in mickle graves during special events in the community. This brought about status differences of the dead from the previous period and with it came social complexity (Sutton and Yohe, 289). There was marked improvement in the pottery making and the making of other ornaments in name of materials being used. The early woodland period ornaments were made from stones and a few shells towards the end of the period. With the middle woodland period, stones were replaced with shells, copper, mica among other materials. This was accompanied by improvement in the skills of making these ornaments and even pottery. The other major(ip) cultural trait that indi cates progress of this period compared to the previous period was in terms of settlement. Previously, settlements were scattered and not very complex. Concentration was also paid to the external of the settlements more than the internal but this changed. More absorption was paid to the internal of the settlement areas hence starting to decorate them. People started grouping themselves instead of documentation separately which brought about the issue of social complexity that had not been witnessed before. The grouping of the people started developments of centers and markets and even roadstead (Neusius and Gross, 477). What explanations have been given as to why the attributes that defined this era were apparently unsustainable among Late Woodland peoples? The late woodland period though expected to be even better in terms of cultural growth was below the middle woodland period. The main reason for this and which almost the root of all the other reasons is the settlement dispersio n. Unlike in the middle woodland period where people settled together in large groups hence helping each other and freeing lands for agrarian use, this late period maxim the populations disperse into different areas. This led to abandonment of some cultural practices like the ornament making, pottery and agricultural farming of subsistence foods like maize. The discovery and increase in horticulture also led to the change of the