Learning GoalsLearning Goals

The students will gain an The students will gain an understanding of prehistoric understanding of prehistoric Oklahoma. They will understand the Oklahoma. They will understand the earliest Oklahomans to live here, the earliest Oklahomans to live here, the Ice Age migration, agricultural trade Ice Age migration, agricultural trade and the Spiro Mounds with at least a and the Spiro Mounds with at least a level 3 understanding.level 3 understanding.

Anticipation ChartAnticipation Chart

What I Already Know What I Want To KnowWhat I Already Know What I Want To Know What I Learned What I Learned

Unit 1Unit 1

Early Days in OklahomaEarly Days in Oklahoma

Earliest OklahomansEarliest Oklahomans Recorded history began in Oklahoma in 1540 Recorded history began in Oklahoma in 1540

when Coronado crossed the plains with his when Coronado crossed the plains with his conquistadors.conquistadors.

There are many theories today concerning the There are many theories today concerning the origin of the American Indian.origin of the American Indian.

Most tribes had legends or traditional histories Most tribes had legends or traditional histories that are passed down orally that contained stories that are passed down orally that contained stories about migration.about migration.

Many legends claimed that early members of the Many legends claimed that early members of the tribe came from “the land of the setting sun” or tribe came from “the land of the setting sun” or somewhere to the west of California.somewhere to the west of California.

Others claimed to have come from the north .Others claimed to have come from the north . The theory most commonly accepted among The theory most commonly accepted among

experts concerns the ice age.experts concerns the ice age.

Ice Age MigrationIce Age Migration During the ice age there was a lowering of the During the ice age there was a lowering of the

oceans water level. It exposed a land bridge oceans water level. It exposed a land bridge between present-day Russia and Alaska. between present-day Russia and Alaska.

Inhabitants of northeast Asia walked across the Inhabitants of northeast Asia walked across the bridge, called Beringia, into North America.bridge, called Beringia, into North America.

Physical characteristics indicate that early Physical characteristics indicate that early Americans may have been descendants of the Americans may have been descendants of the Mongols or of various Chinese tribes. Some may Mongols or of various Chinese tribes. Some may have been Indians from India.have been Indians from India.

This varied evidence strongly suggests that This varied evidence strongly suggests that American Indians should not be grouped together American Indians should not be grouped together in one class called “Indians”in one class called “Indians”

Theories Developed from ArtifactsTheories Developed from Artifacts

Sculpted pieces found in Mexico in 1961 Sculpted pieces found in Mexico in 1961 have been identified as Roman.have been identified as Roman.

Japanese pottery, five thousand years old, Japanese pottery, five thousand years old, was found in Ecuador, and artifacts of was found in Ecuador, and artifacts of Phoenician and Pompeiian origin were Phoenician and Pompeiian origin were found in other places.found in other places.

All this evidence points to two obvious All this evidence points to two obvious possibilitiespossibilities• The Ancestors of the American Indian came The Ancestors of the American Indian came

from many placesfrom many places• Ancient Americans carried on trade with Ancient Americans carried on trade with

Ancient people from around the worldAncient people from around the world

Prehistoric OklahomaPrehistoric Oklahoma Oklahoma is divided Oklahoma is divided

geographically into two geographically into two areas by the Cross areas by the Cross Timbers, a natural barrier Timbers, a natural barrier of very dense scrub timber of very dense scrub timber and thickets. and thickets.

The belt of thick vegetation The belt of thick vegetation ran along a line from the ran along a line from the central part of the state central part of the state toward the southwest.toward the southwest.

Much of the land east of Much of the land east of that lined rough that lined rough woodlands, while western woodlands, while western Oklahoma is largely flat Oklahoma is largely flat prairieland.prairieland.

Agriculture and tradeAgriculture and trade Western Indians planted three Western Indians planted three

main crops- Squash, corn, and main crops- Squash, corn, and beansbeans

Western Oklahoma Indians Western Oklahoma Indians were fine craftsmen, making were fine craftsmen, making excellent stone knives and excellent stone knives and points. These were often points. These were often traded to tribes from farther traded to tribes from farther west who brought pottery west who brought pottery from New Mexico, obsidian from New Mexico, obsidian from Montana, Chalcedony from Montana, Chalcedony from Colorado and even from Colorado and even seashells from Californiaseashells from California

The most important trade The most important trade item Oklahoma tribesmen had item Oklahoma tribesmen had to offer was salt. The Great to offer was salt. The Great Salt Plains still exists today as Salt Plains still exists today as a natural phenomenon.a natural phenomenon.

Ag and trade continuedAg and trade continued Life in Western Oklahoma was more Life in Western Oklahoma was more

difficult than in eastern Oklahoma. The difficult than in eastern Oklahoma. The Western half of the state received little Western half of the state received little precipitation so vegetation had to be precipitation so vegetation had to be carefully cultivated and sheltered as much carefully cultivated and sheltered as much as possible from the high winds.as possible from the high winds.

Eastern Oklahoma, on the other hand , Eastern Oklahoma, on the other hand , enjoyed heavy rainfall and lush enjoyed heavy rainfall and lush vegetation.vegetation.

People built their towns close to rivers, People built their towns close to rivers, lived in permanent dwellings and were lived in permanent dwellings and were primarily farmers and small game hunters primarily farmers and small game hunters

Spiro MoundSpiro Mound Unearthed in the 1930’s Unearthed in the 1930’s

one of the nations most one of the nations most important archeological important archeological locations is near Spiro. An locations is near Spiro. An enormous man-made enormous man-made mound constructed of mound constructed of cedar logs covered with cedar logs covered with tons of soil, it was a tons of soil, it was a ceremonial center and ceremonial center and burial ground.burial ground.

Believed to be ancestors of Believed to be ancestors of the Caddoan tribes, these the Caddoan tribes, these people lived in eastern people lived in eastern Oklahoma from about C.E. Oklahoma from about C.E. 500 to about 1300C.E.500 to about 1300C.E.

Chapter 1 Quiz1.) Describe the most commonly accepted theory about how the Indians got here.

2.) Describe an Inhabitant

3.) Describe Beringia

4.) Where did the American Indians come from?

5.) Describe what some artifacts found in different places tells us about the Ancient Indians.

6.) Describe the two geographic regions in Oklahoma?

7.) What were the three main crops the Western Indians planted

8.) What was the most important trade item Oklahoma Tribesmen had to offer? 9.) Describe why life in Western Oklahoma was more difficult than life in Eastern

Oklahoma.

10.) Describe the Spiro Mounds