Poverty Point and the Early Monuments of the North American ‘Archaic’

These flashcards encapsulate key concepts and vocabulary from the lecture on Poverty Point and the early monuments of the North American 'Archaic' period, aiding in understanding the complexities of ancient societal structures and cultural achievements.

Archaic Period

A long period following the end of the Ice Age noted for diversity of cultural developments.

Hunter-gatherers

Societies that rely on foraging and gathering wild plants and animals for sustenance.

Public Architecture

Structures built for community use, including monuments and ceremonial spaces.

Moundville

A site in Alabama known for its Mississippian rectangular mounds with structures on their summits.

Cahokia

An influential urban settlement in Illinois, known for its monumental earthworks and Mississippian culture.

Shell Ring Monuments

Earthen structures built along the coastal regions of the Southeastern United States dating back 6200-3200 BP.

Watson Brake

Considered one of the earliest public architecture sites in the New World, composed of a complex of mounds.

Poverty Point

A mound complex in Louisiana significant for its monumental architecture and pre-agricultural culture.

Mound A

The largest mound at Poverty Point, significant for its size and cultural importance.

Concentric Ridges

Six semicircular ridges at Poverty Point that serve as a significant architectural feature.

Astronomical Alignments

Alignments at sites like Poverty Point that suggest possible ancient beliefs connected to celestial bodies.

Charnel Houses

Structures used for storing the remains of the deceased, often associated with rituals.

Ceremonial Architecture

Architectural forms built for ceremonial purposes, indicating cultural complexity.

Non-agricultural culture

Cultural societies that rely on foraging and hunting rather than agriculture for sustenance.

Ancient Belief Systems

Spiritual or religious frameworks adopted by ancient societies, often expressed through monumental structures.

Material Culture

Physical objects, resources, and spaces that people use to define their culture.

Social Hierarchy

A system of organization where individuals or groups are ranked one above the other based on status or authority.

Trade Fair

An event where people gather to exchange goods, indicating economic social interactions.

Pilgrimage Center

A site that attracts visitors for religious or spiritual reasons.

Gulf South Region

An area including Louisiana where early mound building was prominent.

Mississippian Culture

An indigenous culture identified by its mound-building societies and agricultural practices.

Flat Topped Platforms

Mounds constructed with flat tops that often support structures, found in Mississippian sites.

Refuse

Waste or discarded materials, indicating human activity or habitation.

Effigies

Artistic representations created to depict animals, humans, or abstract forms in a ceremonial context.

Fat-Bellied Owls

Artifacts shaped like owls, associated with cultural or spiritual significance.

Electro-resistivity

A technique used to assess subsurface features and identify archaeological structures.

Dunbar Mound

One of the mounds in the Poverty Point site representing significant cultural heritage.

Bird Mound

Mound A at Poverty Point, known for its distinct shape and size.

Cultural Dynamism

The idea of ongoing cultural change and adaptation throughout the Archaic period.

Social Inequality

Disparities in access to resources or status within a society, often reflected in archaeological findings.

Foraging Economy

An economic model relying on hunting, gathering, and fishing rather than agriculture.

Seasonal Resources

Natural resources that are harvested at specific times of the year, often leading to surplus production.

Semi-permanent Settlements

Habitations that are established for extended periods, but not permanently occupied.

Earth Origins

Beliefs about the creation and beginnings of the earth and humanity, as expressed through monument construction.

Prestige Practices

Activities or artifacts that signal status or wealth within a community, often associated with specialists.

Labor Organization

The arrangement and management of workers for construction projects in ancient societies.

Cultural Complexity

The multifaceted nature of a society's social structures, beliefs, and interactions.

Ancient Sites

Locations of archaeological significance that provide insights into past human activities.

Geographical Impact

How physical geography influences societal development and cultural practices.