Anthropology 3902 North American Prehistory Exam 2 Study Guide

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Anthropology 3902 North American Prehistory course.

Pleistocene

A geological epoch lasting from 2.6 million years ago to 11,700 years ago characterized by repeated ice ages and the evolution of humans and mammals.

Holocene

The current geological epoch that began 11,700 years ago, marked by a warmer and stable climate and the development of agriculture and human civilization.

Pleistocene-Holocene Transition

The rapid warming period that caused melting ice sheets, mass extinctions of megafauna, and major shifts in human lifestyles towards more settled communities.

Folsom Culture

A Native culture known for its stone projectile points dating around 10,800-10,200 years ago, associated with the hunting of bison.

Anthropogenic Change

Environmental changes caused by human activity, including deforestation, pollution, climate change, and overhunting.

Extinction of Megafauna

The mass die-off of large animal species during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, including mammoths and saber-toothed cats, often attributed to overhunting.

Younger Dryas

A significant cooling period that occurred approximately 1,000 years before the Holocene, disrupting the global warming trend.

Paleoindian

The earliest known inhabitants of North America, known for fluted projectile points and nomadic big game hunting, present after the end of the ice age.

Gulf of Maine Archaic

An early maritime-adapted culture along the New England coast, known for fishing and shellfish gathering, existing around 10,000-8,000 years ago.

Atlantic Slope Archaic

A culture found along the eastern slopes of the Appalachians, focused on small game, fish, and plants, known for ground stone tools.

Danger Cave

An archaeological site in Utah dating to over 13,000 years ago, significant for its exceptional preservation of organic materials.

Desert Culture

A long-lasting hunter-gatherer tradition in the Great Basin from 8000 BCE to 1500 CE, adapted to dry environments and focused on small game and plant gathering.

Cultural Ecology

The study of how human societies adapt to their environment through cultural means.

Forager

A group that moves frequently to access seasonally available resources.

Collector

A group that remains in a specific area and sends out foraging parties from base camps, storing food and developing more complex societies.

Shell Mound Archaic

A cultural tradition from 6000-3000 BC associated with building large shell mounds along rivers and coasts, linked to aquatic resource use.

Stone Boiling

A cooking technique that involves heating rocks in fire and placing them in containers to cook food.

Eastern Horticultural Complex

The region in Eastern North America where early plant domestication occurred, involving species like sunflower and goosefoot.

Poverty Point site

An archaeological site in Louisiana dating to 1700-1100 BCE, known for its massive earthworks and as a likely ceremonial and trade center.

Mississippian culture

A complex chiefdom society known for maize agriculture, larger towns, and distinctive mounds, flourishing from 800-1600 CE.

Hopewell Interaction Sphere

A network of trade and communication linking diverse groups across eastern North America, noted for shared religious ideas and artifacts.

Cahokia

The largest Mississippian city located near modern St. Louis, known for its complex society and monumental architecture.

Calumet Ceremony

A ceremonial practice involving the smoking of a sacred pipe, used to seal treaties and peace deals.

Oneota expansion

The spread of Oneota cultural and agricultural practices into the Great Plains.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

An exploration commissioned by Thomas Jefferson to explore newly acquired land post-Louisiana Purchase, encountering various Native tribes.