Homo sapiens, evolved from homo erectus, originated in Africa and spread throughout Asia and Europe. Their ability to spread was related to the continents being close to each other, a land mass called Pangaea. It wasn’t until around 15,000 BP when the first Paleo-Indians migrated into North America. At this point Pangaea had broken into separate land masses that would become the modern day continents. The migration into North America was only possible during a period of deep freeze. Ocean levels dropped and exposed a land bridge known as Beringia. Siberian hunters used this mass to cross into Alaska and begin spreading into North America, a great milestone.
However, the deep freeze did not last and the climate began to warm up. Glaciers melted, the sea levels rose, and the bridge was no longer accessible. Furthermore, Paleo-Indians were met with a crisis as large mammals like mammoths, a common game, began to go extinct. This was caused by the warming climate, overhunting, and caused Paleo-Indians to find a way to adapt to their situation. Paleo-Indians lasted a period between 13,500BP-13,000BP, but that does not mean they ceased to exist. Instead, they were able to successfully adapt into a hunting and gathering based culture, a true statement of
…show more content…
Eastern Woodland and pacific coast humans were known to have settled out in rich, fertile, areas with enough resources to sustain them. However, the creation of agriculture allowed people to settle in the south as well. The Anaszic culture built settlements in cliffsides and through agriculture and water conservation were able to live in carved and pueblo built homes. Through agriculture humans were able to plant their first crops, corn, in mass. With the new found knowledge of agriculture and irrigation technology it allowed for development of societal hierarchy also known as a Chiefdom. Artifacts, such as burial mounds, are an indication to support