Missouri Archaeology Time Periods

Archaeologists always attempt to place their discoveries within a chronological framework. In other words, how old is the stone tool, pottery, bone, seed, etc.?

Almost all Native-American sites in Missouri pre-date 1800 and their age is determined by techniques such as radiocarbon dating (for charcoal or bone) and thermoluminescence dating (for stone tools and pottery). Euro-American and African-American sites generally date after 1800 and they are dated by coins, tombstone inscriptions, hallmarks on china plates, and maker marks on bottles. Missouri archeology time periods start with the early man period and end with the modern period.

Early Man Period (?–12,000 B.C.)
Some archaeologists accept this period and point to the Shriver site in Daviess County as evidence for a stone tool technology that pre-dates Clovis point tool technology. Other archaeologists have questioned if the Daviess site has been correctly dated and interpreted.

Paleoindian Period (12,000–8,000 B.C.)
This time period is associated with a specific variety of hunting tool called a fluted point; in Missouri, Clovis fluted points and Folsom fluted points have been discovered at a variety of sites. Clovis points were found at the Kimmswick site (Mastodon State Historic site) directly associated with an extinct species of elephant called a mastodon. Paleoindian Points

Dalton Period (8,000–7,000 B.C.)
This time period is a transition between the Paleoindian cultures and the Archaic period. During this period, changing patterns of rainfall and seasonal temperatures triggered changes in plant and animal communities. This meant that diet and hunting strategies had to adapt to the new conditions.

An important technological marker for this period is the Dalton serrated point with beveled edges. Scientific studies of this class of artifacts suggest that they were used as knives for butchering deer. Another distinctive tool associated with this period is a woodworking tool called a Dalton adze. Plant food processing is indicated by the presence of mortars, manos, grinding slabs, cupstones, and hammerstones. Dalton Points

Early Archaic Period (7,000 B.C.–5,000 B.C.)
This time period is marked by the introduction of many new shapes and forms of stone tools including the Graham Cave side notched, Hidden Valley stemmed, Rice lobed, Rice contracting stemmed, Rice lanceolates, and St. Charles notched. Early Archaic Points

Middle Archaic Period (5,000 B.C.–3,000 B.C.)
This time period coincides with a period of warm and dry climatic conditions. Evidence indicates that the prairies expanded at the expense of the forested regions. Deer herds may have decreased, and the diet included a greater amount of birds, fish, and rabbits. Tool technologies associated with this period include the Jakie stemmed, Big Sandy, and a variety of ground stone axe called full grooved. Middle Archaic Points

Late Archaic Period (3,000 B.C.–1,000 B.C.)
This time period is associated with climate changes that brought the return of forest species (both plant and animal) to areas where prairie species had penetrated during the Middle Archaic period. A wide variety of new stone tool types (Nebo Hill lanceolate, Sedalia lanceolates, Smith basal notched, Table Rock stemmed, Stone square stemmed, Big Sandy notched, Etley, and Afton points) appear during this period. Groundstone axes of the three-quarter-grooved variety are another technological hallmark.

The Late Archaic is the first time that pottery vessels were manufactured; pottery would not become commonplace for another 1000 years. This time period marks the first documented use of domesticated plants: the squash (Cucurbita pepo) and bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria).

Social changes occurred during the Late Archaic period as reflected by the first large village sites and the first elaborate burial rituals. The Hatten mound, constructed in northeast Missouri during the Late Archaic, is the oldest documented burial mound in the state. Different burial patterns and variations in stone tools reflect three or four distinct tribes distributed across the state. Late Archaic points

Early Woodland Period (1000–500 B.C.)
This time period saw a continuity of tool technology for some of the Native-American cultures, but also innovation and change for others. One of the few changes in technology occured in the northern half of the state where Black Sand incised ceramics have been identified. Early Woodland points

Middle Woodland Period (500 B.C.–A.D. 400)
This time period is associated with widespread changes that are linked to technological and social changes that also occurred in Illinois and Ohio. New stone tool types include Snyders, Mankers, Ensor, Castroville, Frio, Gary, and Dickson. Pottery produced during this period was often tempered with grit (pieces of crushed gravel) or grog (recycled pieces of pottery). Some, not all, of the pottery is decorated with designs created by stamped designs, cord-wrapped impressions, small hollow-reed impressions, incised lines, and bosses. Clay was used for both pottery and small figurines representing human and animal forms. Middle Woodland points

Variations in pottery styles, burial practices, and stone tools may reflect eight or nine specific tribes distributed across the state. Late Woodland points

Mississippian Period (A.D. 900–A.D. 1700)
This time period is marked by large permanent villages where populations relied upon corn cultivation for a major component in their diet. A handful of the villages grew in population and wealth until they became large, fortified towns with impressive temple mounds, plazas, and astronomical observatories.

Tool technology during this period included shell-tempered pottery and small triangular arrowpoints. A few elite individuals possessed embossed copper plates and conch shells from the Gulf Coast.

The powerful towns and hundreds of villages and hamlets declined during the 13th and 14th centuries. New populations with distinctive pottery and stone tool technology immigrated into Missouri during the 14th century. Termed Oneota culture by archaeologists, the new population identified themselves as the Wah-Sha-She and Niutachi. Today, they are known by the names Osage and Missouri. Mississippian points

Immigrant Period (A.D. 1700–1830)
This period is marked by the arrival of new immigrant groups including Native-American tribes (Kickapoo, Delaware, Shawnee, Miami, Peoria, Potawatomies), Euro-Americans (French, Spanish, and English) and African-Americans (free and slave). The Euro-Americans created settlements at Fort Orleans, Ste. Genevieve, St. Louis, and St. Charles. Treaties signed in 1808 and 1825 resulted in the migration of the Osage from Missouri to Kansas, and eventually to Oklahoma. In 1820, Missouri was admitted as a slave-holding state to the United States of America.

Flint lock rifles were used for hunting and defense. Copper and iron kettles were used for cooking. Imported china and glass bottles were rare.

New State Period (A.D. 1820–1860)
Farming replaced fur trappping in many sections of rural Missouri. A brief but intense conflict erupted in northwest Missouri between Mormons and non-Mormons. A new wave of immigrants arrived from Germany to start new towns in the central part of the state.

Both urban and rural households used imported whiteware and pearlware plates, saucers, handleless cups, bowls, platters, pitchers, teapots, and sugar bowls. Mold-blown glass bottles became more common. Newspapers in St. Louis recorded daily events, and photographers begin to establish businesses in the larger towns and cities.

Civil War (1860-1865)
Missouri citizens were divided in their loyalities; most preferred to leave the Union and join the Confederate States of America, but they were thwarted by the quick action of Gen. Nathaniel Lyon. St. Louis became a major center for the Federal government with the arsenal, hospitals, barracks, and facilities for the construction of city-class ironclad ships. Thousands of refugees fled to St. Louis to escape the fighting and lawless bushwacking. Major battles are fought at Wilsons Creek, Pilot Knob, Lexington, Carthage, and Westport; hundreds of minor skirmishes were fought in all portions of the state. Federal troops built dozens of fortifications in St. Louis, Rolla, Jefferson City, and Springfield. Widespread destruction of civilian homes occurred around Kansas City and in some sections of the Ozarks.

Gilded Age (A.D. 1860–1900)
Social and physical damage caused by the Civil War were slow to be repaired. The African-
American population in St. Louis and Kansas City grew with the migration of freedmen and freedwomen from the former Confederate States of America.

Many elaborate theaters, churches, synagogues, private homes, and businesses were constructed in Kansas City and St. Louis. Eads Bridge was completed across the Mississippi River in St. Louis.

Modern Period (A.D. 1900 to present)
Electricity replaced gas lights and kerosene lanterns. Interstate highways linked major urban centers inside and outside of the state boundaries. Rural populations declined and some small towns shrank to near extinction. Kansas City and St. Louis suffered urban decline within their historic borders, while surrounding suburban settlements experienced a boom. St. Louis and Kansas City built impressive skylines with the horizon of St. Louis punctuated by the Gateway Arch.

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Last updated December 2006.
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