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Paleo-Indian Period
Excerpts taken from Sun Circles and Human Hands (1957)
by Emma Lila Fundaburk and Mary Douglass Fundaburk Foreman.
The first inhabitants of the Southeast came in gradual influx
over a long period of centuries; as new waves of migrants entered
extreme North America, pushing down into the western plains, the
older inhabitants were gradually pressed outward toward the then
uninhabited areas of the continent. The first immigrants traveled
in small bands probably one or a few families; they rarely came
in contact with other natives, and inbred for centuries. Paleo-Indians lived a nomadic life; ate the
meat of large animals they
collectively killed; and supplemented their diet with berries,
bark, nuts, and fruits in season. They sought convenient and
natural habitation sites, as caves or overhanging rocks; in the
Tennessee Valley area, their habitation sites included small
knolls near springs, lakes, or springs, and sites at pass
approaches to a valley or on slopes nearby.
No human skeletal remains have been found at Paleo-Indian camp
sites; there is also an absence of bone tools, which were
probably used. The lithic material which remains, indicates that
Paleo-Indians variety of tools, including points, scrapers,
gravers, knives, and choppers; these were made from lamellar
flakes, struck from cores of flint or similar materials. Many of
the projectile points show remarkable craftsmanship; they are
expertly chipped or flaked into shape; they sometimes have
concave bases; ground basal edges, to prevent cutting the thongs
used in hafting; and central fluting, for blood-letting or ease
in hafting. Since men were the hunters, they were doubtless
responsible for the excellent craftsmanship displayed on the
points. Their weapons included spears, stones and clubs, and the
Late Paleo-Indian probably used the throwing stick.
Knowledge and use of fire for light, warmth, and the crudest
culinary purposes, is believed to have been brought into North
America by early migrants from Asia. The Paleo-Indian had to
struggle constantly against the elements of his/her environment;
he/she probably seldom gathered anything to store, and wandered
frequently in search of food.
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