Native Americans Gallery When you enter the Native American Gallery with your students, you ll first be greeted by Woolly, the Woolly Mammoth. Woolly is about 12,000 years old, and was found on the Istra riverbank in Russia. Twelve-thousand years ago, though, Mammoths roamed the North American Continent, too. The earliest Native Americans arrived between 15,000 20,000 years ago, crossing from the Eurasian Continent into what is now Alaska. Some migrated directly down the coast, traveling over generations to the southernmost reaches of South America. Others migrated south and east, filling the American continents with people and giving rise to civilizations. By the time of European arrival in the 15 th Century, North America had already witnessed the rise and fall of entire civilizations, widespread migrations, and incredible Discovery Park of America The Native Americans Gallery Page 1
population variances over time. In the same ways that cultures across Europe differed from one another, the cultures of Native American peoples differed from one another. The tribes encountered by English colonists in New England differed from the tribes encountered by Spanish colonists on the Gulf Coast. All shared many things in common, though. Native peoples across the continent all descended from the same initial population groups, and all shared a common history that spread across thousands of years and the thousands of miles that make up what is now the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Over the centuries following European contact, populations were wiped out and displaced by the expansion of European and European-American populations. Native Americans didn t use written language. We know what we know about Native Americans thanks to the stories told by their ancestors as they ve struggled to carry their cultures forward and the work of archeologists who have pulled shards of history from the ground and used those pieces to reassemble a picture of the past. Archeologists have divided the past into five periods; the Paleoindian, Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian, and Historic. Archeologists and other scientists further divide these periods into several smaller and more specific periods. Our gallery, however, does not. The north and west walls of the gallery are lined with cases featuring much of Discovery Park s collection. Over 10,000 artifacts are on display. A timeline can be found at the bottom of these cases, tracing the history of Native Americans with important historic events from around the world included to provide context. The artifacts displayed along the wall correspond to the period represented on the timeline below them. The five major periods are briefly explained on signposts where your students may view several videos to learn more. To use these videos with your classroom, we recommend breaking into smaller groups and rotating your students through each location. Discovery Park of America The Native Americans Gallery Page 2
The Historic Periods represented in the gallery are listed below, with provided by Bill Lawrence, Tennessee State Archeologist and Discovery Park Native Americans Gallery scientific adviser. The Paleoindian Period: (~18,000 9,500 BC) The first Americans arrived in the New World from Asia at least 15,000 years ago and are known as the Paleoindians. The Earth was in the grip of the last ice age at this time, and much of the northern part of the continent was covered by massive glaciers. Global temperatures were slowly warming, and the glaciers were melting. Giant mammals such as the mammoth, mastodon, camels, horses, and saber tooth cats roamed the landscape. These early hunters and gatherers were skilled at living off of the bounty that nature provided and successfully hunted some of the largest and most dangerous animals with only spears tipped with finely made stone points. Although hunting big game was an important activity, small animals and fish were also an important part of the diet. Women and children gathered wild plant foods which probably made up the majority of the food consumed and could be stored along with dried meat for use during the long, lean ice age winter season. These were nomadic people living in temporary campsites as they moved from one location to another to take advantage of ripening plants, migrating animal herds, and places where they could find quality stone to replace worn-out tools. Paleoindians quickly spread throughout North and South America and are the ancestors of all Native Americans south of Alaska. Discovery Park of America The Native Americans Gallery Page 3
The Archaic Period: (~9,500 BC - 1,200 BC) The Archaic Period was a long period of adaptation to modern climate conditions. The glaciers had melted; mammoths, mastodons, and other large ice age mammals had become extinct. Archaic people were hunters and gatherers that exploited the same species of plants and animals that we are familiar with today. Environmental conditions were not as harsh as they had been during the ice age, and the human population of the Americas grew markedly throughout the Archaic. As the population grew, regional cultures emerged along the major river valleys. Living in small bands of 20-40 people, these extended family groups maintained contact with other bands to exchange marriage partners and trade valuable items that might not be available in their own territory. Although still nomadic, the rich environment allowed people to return to the same campsites each year which were located near predictable sources of food that they knew would be available at certain times of the year. In some locations, people began to alter the natural landscape by building artificial earth mounds. In other regions, campsites were located near mussel or oyster shell beds. After the shellfish were eaten, the shells were discarded, and over the years, these accumulated, forming mounds of shell which were then used as cemeteries. Near the end of the archaic period, people began to domesticate a few species of gourds and squashes. These plants were grown for use as containers rather than food as archaic people did not make pottery. Discovery Park of America The Native Americans Gallery Page 4
The Woodland Period: (~1,200 BC 1,000 AD) As populations in North America expanded, Woodland people made social, spiritual, and technological advancements that led the way to more complex societies. Several new species of seed crops were domesticated during the early part of the Woodland Period, and horticulture began to supplement the diet in addition to hunting and gathering wild plants and animals. The adoption of pottery making indicates that Woodland people were becoming less nomadic. During the middle of the Woodland period, the first major flourishing of Native American culture spread across the eastern part of the continent. Exotic items, including copper and marine shell, traveled great distances along well-established trade routes. Elaborate burial practices and complex mound building rituals created earthen monuments that are still visible on the landscape today. The Mississippian Period: (~1,000 1492) Mississippian culture saw the rise of the most socially complex societies north of Mexico. The introduction of corn agriculture brought about these social changes, and corn became a staple of the diet, in addition to wild plants and animals. Large permanent towns and villages, arranged around grand plazas flanked by large mounds, were constructed along the major river valleys near prime agricultural soils. The towns and villages were protected by defensive walls constructed of logs and fired clay, suggesting that warfare had become common. Discovery Park of America The Native Americans Gallery Page 5
Impressive temples built on the tops of mounds housed powerful chiefs and priests, reflecting a hereditary, hierarchical, social structure. These political and religious officials maintained their positions of power by controlling access to supernatural forces necessary to ensure good harvests and social harmony. These supernatural events and mythical figures are often portrayed in Mississippian art. The Historic Period: (European Contact) The arrival of European explorers in the New World was a catastrophic event for Native Americans. The introduction of European and African diseases decimated Native Americans. It is estimated that as much as 80% of the native population perished within 200 years of initial European contact. Spanish conquistadors in search of gold and silver were the first Europeans to enter the interior of what is now the southeastern United States. They encountered large, thriving villages which they pillaged and many of the inhabitants were slaughtered. The Spanish never found the precious metals for which they searched. A century and a half later, French explorers descended the Mississippi River and found the areas visited by the Spanish virtually uninhabited. Though no gold or silver was found, furs from America were in high demand in Europe, and a lucrative trade in animal skins was established. Increasing demands for land by European Colonists forced Native Americans from their traditional lands. By the 1830's the last remaining tribes were forcibly removed from the Southeastern United States and relocated to what is now the State of Oklahoma. Discovery Park of America The Native Americans Gallery Page 6
The artifacts on display in the cases along the walls of the Native Americans Gallery are only a portion of The Discovery Park of America collection. The entire collection contains around 18,000 artifacts. The majority, around 15,000 artifacts, comes from the collection of Aaron B. Clement. The remainder of the collection is from the Brent Wade collection. Aaron Clement was born in Big Sandy, Tennessee on October 27, 1920. He was a graduate of Big Sandy High School, and The University of Tennessee, Martin, and he was a World War II Army Air Corps Veteran. He worked for the U.S. Soil Conservation service until his retirement in 1972, mapping the soil in most of the counties throughout West Tennessee. He collected artifacts all over the area, often going relic hunting with his wife and two sons. A self-taught archeologist, he opened an Indian Museum in his home after retirement, and hosted local schools on field trips to teach children about the first Americans. Brent Wade was a lifelong resident of the area, owning and operating Twin Cities Auto Parts in South Fulton for 30 years. After retirement, he worked as a custodian at the South Fulton Middle School, calling it the best job he ever had. Collecting artifacts was his hobby and a family pastime. His daughter fondly recalls, Playing in dirt, finding Indian rocks, and eating lunch on the back of his pick-up truck. Over his lifetime, he amassed a collection of over 3,000 artifacts. There is also a collection of Turkey Tail Points on display in the gallery. Turkey tail points can be easily identified based on their shape, a wide mid-section and a blade that resembles the tail of a dressed turkey. This collection was found on Mother s Day, 2012, when five year old Kurt Sanders was digging in his back yard. His father, Kevin Sanders, quickly realized that his son had stumbled upon something spectacular and contacted the Tennessee Division of Archeology. Bill Lawrence soon joined the excavation process. A total of 71 Turkey Tail Points, Discovery Park of America The Native Americans Gallery Page 7
2 stone beads, and a lump of lead were found. Radio carbon dating showed the cache to be approximately 2800 years old. Looking at the blades under a microscope, it appears that they were never used or resharpened. During the time they were buried, the blades would have been used to represent social status. They were a form of wealth in a society without money as we know it today. The deer hunting diorama recreates a scene that one could have come across in this part of the world thousands of years ago. It depicts a hunter using an atlatl to bring down his prey. The technology of the atlatl is believed to be about 30,000 years old, with archeologists having discovered variants of the tool all over the world. The atlatl is a simple, but very effective tool. It provides leverage that allows a hunter to throw a spear with more velocity than he otherwise could. Specific examples of Native American technology are also displayed. A video presentation and accompanying set of example pieces allows visitors to witness the process of flintknapping and see an arrowhead take shape from start to finish. The holographic story teller sits in the center of the gallery, to the west end of the deer hunt diorama. The display showcases a 3D holographic image. The story being told is the Cherokee legend of the first fire. The story is adapted from a version published by Charles Mooney in his 1900 book, Myths of the Cherokee. Mooney was an anthropologist who worked with the Bureau of American Ethnology during the late 19th century. The bureau worked to organize anthropologic research in America, particularly in relation to Native Americans. The bureau was founded, in fact, to facilitate the transfer of records and materials related to Native Americans from the Department of the Interior to the Smithsonian Institute. Mooney recorded the story after it was related to him by an elderly Cherokee man named Swimmer. Swimmer was born in 1835, and was raised to Discovery Park of America The Native Americans Gallery Page 8
be a priest, doctor, and keeper of tradition. During the Civil War, he served in Thomas Legion, a Cherokee unit of the Confederate Army. Swimmer died in 1899. In his book, Mooney described him as a storehouse of Indian tradition. A suit of conquistador armor is on display with an exhibit about the earliest European exploration of the southeastern United States. In May of 1539, Hernando de Soto landed in what is now Florida with a force of over 600 men. They traveled through as many as eleven future states. The purpose of the expedition was to find gold for the Spanish crown. Their mission was a failure; they found no gold. The impact of the expedition cannot be understated, however. De Soto and his men contributed greatly to the Columbian Exchange, the widespread exchange of plants, animals, disease, culture, and human populations that took place between the old world and the Americas after Columbus arrival. Razorback populations (feral pigs) in the southeastern United States are descended from herds of pigs brought to Florida by the expedition. The men and livestock carried Eurasian diseases like small pox. Native Americans had no immunity and suffered losses of up to 80% of their populations. Those not infected by disease were subject to brutal torture at the hands of the Spaniards, who inflicted the torture based upon religious convictions. Early surveying equipment is displayed in an exhibit which tells the story of the displacement of Native Americans by growing populations of European and American Settlers. In the years following the United States independence from Great Britain, populations grew and continuously pushed west in search of new land. As settlers made their way into Native lands, they established trading posts like the one on display in the gallery. These outposts provided a place for hunters and trappers to resupply and to sell the valuable furs they had collected. European trade goods were made available, and Native Americans were encouraged to make purchases on credit. Once in debt, they would be offered relief in exchange for land. In the Southeast, the Federal Government signed a series of treaties with Native Americans, who Discovery Park of America The Native Americans Gallery Page 9
gave up more and more land with each treaty. In 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed into law the Indian Removal Act. From 1831 1833, the Choctaw, Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, and Seminole Nations were forcibly removed from their homelands and relocated to what is now Oklahoma. Over 8,500 Native Americans died on the brutal marches. A display of contemporary Native American artwork is in place to recognize the remaining descendents of the first Americans. There are nearly 2.1 million people of native descent living in the United States today. There are 562 federally recognized tribes. The tribes are able to govern themselves with a degree of sovereignty, maintaining separate governments to handle tribal affairs. Several Native Americans working to carry on their ancestral traditions can be seen by guests in the signpost video displays which include stories about the Cherokee Language and Cherokee pottery traditions that date back centuries. The contemporary artwork on display comes from tribes native to the Western half of the continent and speaks to the great diversity of culture and tradition that perseveres among Native American peoples. Discovery Park of America The Native Americans Gallery Page 10