Adena
The Adena culture began near
the Ohio River Valley area during the technological period of about 3000 BP
(Before Present). They lasted for a relatively short period of time, from 1000
B.C. to around 1 A.D. This culture is most famous for its practice of burying
its dead in large burial mounds and its people have often been termed the
"Mound Builders". Most of what we know about this culture comes from examining
what was buried with the dead.
The culture's main identifying features, the burial mounds, most are
conical in shape and vary greatly in size. An exception to this is the
Serpent Mound
found in present day Ohio. They are as large as 100 meters in diameter and
are surrounded by a moat with a single gateway to give access to the burial
site. Grave Creek Mound in West Virginia,
which is over 20 meters high, is the largest mound ever discovered
and among the most famous. Building the mounds required immense effort and
often the mounds were used for several burials over the course of several
decades. Only important Adena were buried inside of the mounds, inside of log
tombs. The tombs were constructed by placing the logs on the ground for a
floor. Then, they placed poles in the ground, constructing a platform, and then
roofing that with bark. Because of the weight of the earth on top and the
rotting of the timbers, most tombs ended up collapsing shortly upon
construction. Burials included cremations, decapitated and mutilated people,
and mass burial sites. Often the body would be placed in the grave on its back.
After some time the body would decompose. At this timet the bones would be
painted with red dye. Less important Adena were cremated. The body would be
burned in a circular clay basin, and its ashes would then be placed within the
grave complex. Many items were buried with the dead including copper bracelets,
gorgets and celts as well as various shells.
Many tools have also been found within the
burial mounds. Stone hoes, flint blades, projectile points, and stone scrapers
are among the most common items found. The typical projectile point was long,
straight, and did not differ from the Archaic prototype by that much. Axes, or
celts, were also found within the burial complexes. Unlike the Archaic axes,
these axes were ungrooved. Shells that were found within the burial complex
also served a specific function. They used the shells as spoons and ornamental
objects. Bone and antler were used to make combs, beads, and gorgets. A few
copper axes have been found, but most copper artifacts were for ornamental
purposes. Tobacco pipes have also been found within the grave sites. These
pipes are carved from stone and are some 20cm in length.
The pottery made by the Adena peoples was not buried with the dead. It was made form the grit of crushed limestone, and somewhat plain looking. Designs found on the pottery were usually made from fabric, although some do have a nestled diamond shape pressed in to them.
The diet consisted of local freshwater fish and clams as well as local flora and fauna such as deer, elk, and rabbit and hickory nuts, walnuts, and gooseberries.
The Adena later became the Hopewell culture.
Adena Links:
More
Cultures