The Land and People Long Ago

1
The Land and People Long Ago
Historians and scientists believe that
people began to walk from Asia to North America
on the land bridge known as the Bering Strait.
They believed that the people migrated, or moved,
to follow the large animals that they hunted.
2
Hunting Large Animals
The Paleo-Indians, or first known people in
Indiana, met their needs by hunting large
animals,like Wooly Mammoths and Mastodons. Just
one animal would be enough to feed one band, or
small groups of families, for a whole winter.
3
Meeting Basic Needs
Slowly, over many years the climate in
Indiana began to change and the large animals
moved or became extinct. The early Indians began
to specialize in small game hunting, farming,
making pottery, clothing, or rugs to meet their
needs. These bands of people grew into tribes
with their own culture, or values, beliefs, and
ways of dressing.
4
Mound Builders
Some of the earliest prehistoric Indians in
Indiana are known as the Mound Builders.
These Indians lived near Evansville Indiana. They
built homes that were shaped like round bee
hives. They began to specialize in farming. The
Mound Builders lived in communities with leaders
and chiefs.
5
Angel Mounds

• The Angel Mounds in Indiana are
  hills that the mound Builders created in shapes
  of animals or symbols that were important to
  their beliefs.
• They would bury their dead and precious
  belongings in these mounds.

6
Archeologist
Archeologists are people who dig up and study
ancient items to find clues about our past.
Many archeologist have visited Indiana to study
the artifacts buried in the ancient mounds.
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Clues from the Past
Artifacts are man made objects left behind
from early people. Some of the artifacts
that archeologist have found are arrow heads,
drills, spears,axes, and pottery. Artifacts
allow us to understand more about the early
Indians and their culture and beliefs.
8
Name that Artifact
Discuss with your group what you think these
artifacts are, and explain how you believe they
were used in ancient times. Summarize why you
think that?
9
Cooperative Learning
Today you will work in your small groups to
read about other Native Americans that settled
here in Indiana. You will be assigned to read
about the Delaware, Shawnee, or the Potawatomie
group of Indians. You will read to
discover When did these Native Americans settle
in Indiana? Locate the region, or part of
Indiana your tribe settled in? Compare and
contrast the duties, or jobs of the men and
women? Describe and illustrate what their homes
looked like. Share an interesting fact or
detail.