Surviving winter in the Late Woodland period in Ohio was a daunting task. The period is dated between AD 450 – AD 1000, time of great innovation evidenced by the creation of the bow and arrow (Lepper, 2005). Also, trade was abandoned as well the construction of large burial mounds. I am going to highlight some of the cultural practices and tools which played a key role in ensuring that safety was guaranteed in the harsh weather. Keen insight into the technology, economy and basic human biology will be offered in an effort to show their application in the era.
The houses in the Late Woodland period were mainly square to rectangular in shape. Upright posts were used construct them and were covered with thatch, bundles of dry reeds or grasses to combat snowfall. The houses consisted of a single room with fireplace for cooking and heating during the winter period providing a favorable atmosphere to undertake most of the activities indoors at our own comfort (Applegate & Mainfort, 2005). Villages were surrounded by a defensive ditch to protect us from enemies as tribal conflicts became common leading to warfare.
There was a strong focus on growing plants for food in the Late Woodland era. Corn alongside other crops like squash and goosefoot became our staple food as they were easy to produce and the environmental conditions in Ohio favored them. The plants would be grown in large-scale and harvested in seasons (Lepper, 2005). In the winter, the crop would provide us with the nourishment required to sustain our lives until the harsh weather lessened. Nuts like black walnuts and acorn provided us with protein keeping us healthy all through the season.
Trading was not common in the winter period as the weather conditions did not favor it. Moreover, the practice of trade has declined in this period as most of us focused on food production for sustenance. The invention of the bow and arrow had a really positive impact on our hunting lifestyle. Also, this meant that hunters could carry more arrows as compared to spears making it possible to explore far and wide for animals. It made it possible to kill deer and bear from a longer range thus increasing the yield Ohio Prehistory). The meat would be smoked or roasted to preserve it for the winter period guaranteeing us a steady supply of food for months to come.
The winter season meant extremely cold weather which could easily cause disease if proper measures were not taken to warm oneself. Animal skin especially bear was used to make warm clothing specially made for the cold season. The skins were acquired from the hunting escapades performed by the men from our tribe (Applegate & Mainfort, 2005). The crops harvested and the meat preserved through our traditional methods helped us preserve our health. Prior hunting and trading sessions which had been built with other villages allowed us to socially interact with each other and eventually forming more strong bonds. Interaction with various communities meant that we could intermarry with each thus ensuring the human population in the long run. Clearly, surviving winter in the Late Woodland could be a daunting task if one was not prepared. There was an abundance of resources but proper preparation drew the line between life and death during the harsh weather.
References
Applegate, D., & Mainfort, R. C. (2005). Woodland period systematics in the middle Ohio valley. Alabama: University of Alabama Press.
Lepper, B. T. (2005). Ohio archaeology: An illustrated chronicle of Ohio's ancient American Indian cultures. Wilmington: Orange Frazer Press.
Ohio Prehistory. Fort Ancient. Retrieved from http://fortancient.org/archaeology/ohio-pre- history?showall=1&limitstart=
