Archaic period in the Americas

In the sequence of North American pre-Columbian cultural stages first proposed by Gordon Willey and Philip Phillips in 1958^[1], the Archaic stage or "Meso-Indian period"^[2] was the second period of human occupation in the Americas, from around 8000 B.C. to 1000 B.C. although as its ending is defined by the adoption of sedentary farming, this date can vary "significantly across the Americas".

The Archaic stage is characterized by subsistence economies supported through the exploitation of nuts, seeds and shellfish. Numerous local variations have been identified. The period has been subdivided by region and then time. For-instance, the Archaic Southwest tradition is subdivided into the Dieguito-Pinto, Oshara, Cochise and Chihuahua cultures.^[3]

The Archaic period followed the Lithic stage and was superseded by the Formative stage.^[4]

1. The Lithic stage
2. The Archaic stage
3. The Formative stage
4. The Classic stage
5. The Post-Classic stage

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Archaeology of the Americas

• Arctic small tool tradition
• Archaeology of the Americas
• Category:Archaeology of the Americas
• Calf Creek culture
• Chan-Chan Cultural Complex
• List of pre-Columbian cultures
• List of archaeological periods (North America)
• Pre-Columbian South America
• Prehistoric Southwestern Cultural Divisions
• South American Indigenous people

References

v • d • e Native peoples of the Pacific Northwest Archeologic sites Paisley Caves • Fort Rock Cave • Kennewick Man • Marmes Rockshelter • X̲á:ytem • Ethnicities Tlingit • Tahltan • Tsetsaut • Nisga'a • Gitxsan • Tsimshian • Haida • Haisla • Heiltsuk • Wuikinuxv • Nuxalk (Bella Coola) • Kwakwaka'wakw • Nuu-chah-nulth • Coast Salish • Makah • Quileute • Nez Perce • Kalapuya • Takelma • Cayuse • Chinookan • Klamath • Molala • Shasta • Bannock • Umatilla • Umpqua • Walla Walla • Methow • Colville • Sinixt (Lake) • Okanagan • Secwepemc (Shuswap) • Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) • Nicola • Sinixt • St'at'imc (Lillooet) • Tsilhqot'in (Chilcotin) • Dakelh (Carrier) • Kutenai (Ktunaxa) • Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast People Chief Garry • Chief Joseph • Sarah Winnemucca • Annie Miner Peterson • Coquelle Thompson • Sacagawea • Randy'L He-dow Teton • Nicola • Maquinna • Concomly • Wickaninnish • Cumshewa • Simon Gunanoot • Slumach • Sealth • Leschi • Tonasket • August Jack Khatsahlano • Joe Capilano • Harriet Nahanee • Annie York • Chief Dan George • Bill Reid • Edenshaw • Guujaw • Spintlum  • Pahallak • Frank Gott • Okanagan Mourning Dove Places Celilo Falls • Cascades Rapids • Kettle Falls • Siwash Rock • Tseax Lava Beds Memorial • Towns and villages Skedans • Ninstints • Cumshewa • Masset • Skidegate • 'Yalis (Alert Bay) • Lax Kw'alaams  • Lax Ksiluux • 'Ksan • Gingolx • Kitwanga • X̱wemelch'stn • Kiix?in • Yuquot • Opitsaht • Old Man House • Armed conflicts Cayuse War • Modoc War • Yakima War • Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War • Fraser Canyon War • Puget Sound War • Chilcotin War • Tonquin incident • Nicola's War Court cases and treaties Boldt Decision • Sohappy v. Smith • Yakama Treaty of 1855 • Delgamuukw v. British Columbia • Nisga'a Treaty Modern issues Land claims Miscellaneous Bridge of the Gods (geologic event) • Reservations in Oregon

v • d • e Pre-Columbian North America Archaeological cultures North American pre-Columbian chronology – Adena – Alachua – Ancient Pueblo (Anasazi) – Belle Glade – Caborn-Welborn – Calf Creek – Caloosahatchee – Clovis – Coles Creek – Deptford – Fort Ancient – Fort Walton – Fremont – Glades – Glacial Kame – Hopewell (List of Hopewell sites) – Hohokam – Leon-Jefferson – Mississippian (List of Mississippian sites) – Mogollon – Paleo-Arctic – Paleo-Indians – Patayan – Pecos chronology– Plano – Plaquemine – Poverty Point – Prehistoric Southwest – Red Ocher – Santa Rosa-Swift Creek – St. Johns – Tchefuncte Famous monuments Angel Mounds – Bandelier National Monument – The Bluff Point Stoneworks – Cahokia – Chaco Canyon – Casa Grande – Eaker – Effigy Mounds National Monument – Etowah Indian Mounds – Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument – Hopewell Culture National Historical Park – Kincaid Mounds – Kolomoki – Manitou Cliff Dwellings – Mesa Verde – Moundville – Nodena Site – Ocmulgee National Monument – Old Stone Fort – Parkin Park – Pinson Mounds – Poverty Point – Pueblo Bonito – Rock Eagle – Rock Hawk – Salmon Ruins – Serpent Mound – Spiro Mounds – SunWatch – Taos Pueblo – Winterville Miscellaneous Ballgame – Black drink – Calumet – Chunkey – Effigy mound – Falcon dancer – Horned Serpent – Kennewick man – Kiva – Mi'kmaq hieroglyphic writing – Mound builders – Piasa – Southeastern Ceremonial Complex – Thunderbird – Underwater panther See also: Indigenous peoples of North America Portal — Pre-Columbian