who were the first known inhabitants of Indiana?

[al_that_2_u]

who like first lived there and stuff....skewl pro.

[kenneth h]

Look it up! You're on the internet for crying out loud!

[bombaybubba]

Look it up?!?! That actually takes motivation, ambition, and self-reliance. Can't expect that from anybody these days, can you?

[brucebirchall]

I think there might just be a clue in the name "Indiana"! The first known inhabitants were Native Americans. The question is which tribes/Nations/Confederations?

The state's name means "Land of the Indians" and Angel Mounds State Historic Site, one of the best preserved prehistoric Native American sites in the United States, can be found in southern Indiana.

According to Wikipedia ...

"The area of Indiana has been settled since before the development of the Hopewell culture (ca. 100–400 AD).

It was part of the Mississippian culture from roughly the year 1000 up to 1400.). The specific Native American tribes that inhabited this territory at that time were primarily the Miami and the Shawnee."

MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE

The Angel Mounds website (see 2nd link)states

"Mississippian culture originated in the southeastern United States between A.D. 700 and 800, and in some places survived as late as 1700. The culture was very innovative. It was the first to extensively exploit agriculture and build permanent communities with thousands of residents. This economic and social system was made possible by the widespread cultivation of corn, a crop nutritious enough to be a dietary staple."

I thought that was interesting as the Hollywood portrayal of the Native Americans is of buffalo-hunting nomadic communities temporarily encamped in wigwams, following their food supply across the plains, But clearly here was a culture that grew its own food ...

HOPEWELL CULTURE

Hopewell culture is the term used to describe common aspects of the Native American culture that flourished along rivers in the northeastern and midwestern United States from 200 BC to 400 A.D. At its greatest extent, Hopewell culture stretched from western New York to Missouri and from Wisconsin to Mississippi, and included both the American and Canadian shores of Lake Ontario.

Hopewell culture is known for its flamboyant burial ceremonialism, diversified material culture, and most importantly, exchange between other communities. With this exchange network, raw materials, as well as finished products were exported and imported.

Other features of Hopewell culture include the predominance of agriculture as opposed to hunting and gathering. Chief crops included squash, sunflowers, and various grasses.

Artifacts indicate that the people were able to create tools and ornamental objects out of obsidian, mica, silver, native copper, or slightly modify natural items of iron, using percussion and drilling techniques.

I thought that was interesting, too, as the existence of both trade and mining are both distinctly absent from the Hollywood stereotype.

The Center for American Archeology (CAA)specializes in Hopewell culture. The CAA, is an independent non-profit institution located along the banks of the Illinois River, in Kampsville, Illinois, USA. It is dedicated to the exploration of the culture of prehistoric Native Americans.

Founded on what is often referred to as the "Nile of North America," the region surrounding the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Illinois River, the Center for American Archeology specializes in North American pre-Columbian cultures of the area, which is particularly rich in Woodland Period, especially Middle Woodland Hopewell culture, and Mississippian culture artifacts.

The center is located about 90 minutes from the Cahokia mounds of Cahokia, Illinois.

[profwmandrews]

Indiana Jones ! HA!

[gosh137]

Hint for "looking it up" Angel Mounds State Historic Site, one of the best preserved prehistoric Native American sites in the United States, can be found in southern Indiana.

[tamarlz]

Indians...