Middle Woodland

Minnesota was on the western edge of the Woodland cultural area. Artifacts defined as Woodland began to appear in Minnesota about 1000 BC. and continued in the northern part of the state until about 1700 AD. The Middle Woodland Period ascribed to the Hopewellian phase in the south and Laurel in the north. (Wilford 1955)

Woodland cultural features include the use of pottery and burial in earth mounds. Copper artifacts are scarce. Chipped stone points with small side notches are most common. Fully grooved mauls, used to pound dried meat and berries, became to most common tool. Bone and antler tools are also common at Woodland sites. Necklaces of bone, animal teeth and bird talons have been found as well as shell ornaments.

The most striking cultural trait of the Woodland people was their burial mounds. Circular mounds were the most common, but linear mounds were also used. Both primary and secondary burials have been found, though generally not in the same mound.

Woodland pottery was used for cooking and storage. Some pottery found in graves appears to have been made specially for burial. Early pottery had a pointed base and a wide mouth while late vessels were globular shaped with a constricted neck and flared mouth. Decoration was pressed into the vessels before firing. (Johnson, 1969) The decoration on most Woodland pottery occurs in the neck and on the rim and lip of the vessels. (Evans 1961)

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