(13,000–8000 b.c.e.), regional cultural traditions fi rst arose
in the Late Archaic Period (3000–1000 b.c.e.). From utilitar-
ian to ceremonial objects the American Woodland cultures
laid the foundation for a tradition of distinct and sophisti-
cated art forms.
Mostly utilitarian items were created by the Early and
Middle Archaic Woodland cultures (8000–3000 b.c.e.). Items
such as mortars, pestles, axes, and knives were made from
stone and copper. Ceremonial objects and ornaments of min-
imal design also began to be produced. Th e fi rst signifi cant
art forms in North America—mostly portable carved stone
objects—were made by the Woodland peoples of the Late Ar-
chaic. While they continued the tradition of stone tool mak-
ing, they also made many ornamental objects out of highly
polished precious stones, such as beads and pendants. Such
ceremonial objects as simply shaped smoking pipes and fl utes
made from luxury materials became more prevalent.
Poverty Point (1600–1300 b.c.e.), in northeastern Loui-
siana, was the largest and most infl uential site of this period.
Numerous ceremonial, burial, and ornamental objects were
created there, including the fi rst known human fi gures in
North America. Th ese fi gurines of men and women would
have been hand-molded out of clay and then fi red. At the
Great Lakes burial site known as Glacial Kame (1500–1000
b.c.e.), a uniquely shaped object called the sandal-sole gorget
(an ornamental collar named for its sandal-like shape) made
its appearance. Th ese ornaments were carved from shell and
oft en featured small relief carvings of animals. At Glacial
Kame and the nearby Red Ocher site, unique bird-shaped at-
latls (throwing devices used to propel spears) with large, pop-
ping eyes have been found, which suggest the importance of
imbuing functional objects with a sense of design.
B y t h e t i m e o f t h e E a r l y Wo o d l a n d P e r i o d (10 0 0 b. c. e. –10 0
c.e.), regional communities had made developments in agri-
culture, ceramic production, and the burial of the dead and
had become even more sedentary. Th is period was marked by
growth in the practice of mound building. Th e Adena burial
sites of the central Ohio River valley are the most complex.
Here mound building became more monumental and com-
plex, as did burial caches. Fine utilitarian and ornamental ob-
jects made from luxury materials were buried with the dead.
Along with these objects, some late Adena burial mounds
contained stone pallets incised with highly stylized designs.
Of particular note are the ceremonial smoking pipes found
in association with later Adena complexes. Instead of being
confi ned to a simple, tubular shape, these pipes incorporate
zoomorphic (animal-like) and human fi gures as part of their
design or as the whole. Th is advancement greatly infl uenced
the carving practices of the later Woodland cultures.
Many of the key objects of the Middle Woodland Period
(200 b.c.e.–400 c.e.) were created by the Ohio Hopewell cul-
ture. While the Ohio Hopewell culture is best known for high-
ly sophisticated mound building (ranging from geometric or
curvilinear designs to zoomorphic forms), they did engage
in small-scale artistic production of particular importance.
Th e Ohio Hopewell began carving two-dimensional animal
and human cutouts from copper, shell, and mica. Th ey also
made human fi gurines from fi red clay. Ornamental objects
like breastplates, headdresses, and cymbal-shaped earspools
(circular ear ornaments that are hollow at their centers and
worn by being placed within a hole in the earlobe) decorated
with animal designs also were created. Th ey developed the
platform pipe, in which the traditional tubular pipe was mod-
ifi ed to include a curved platform base with a carved bowl
on top. Quite oft en these pipes displayed highly naturalistic
renderings of bears, birds, wolves, and other animals. Many
Hopewellian characteristics appear in objects created in con-
temporary and later Woodland sites, indicating that the Ohio
Hopewell tradition played an essential role in the develop-
ment of artistic production in this period.
Another signifi cant region of artistic activity in the
Middle Woodland Period arose in Alabama. Th e Copena
complex (100–600 c.e.) developed a distinct brand of pipe
design in which the entire pipe takes on the shape of an ani-
mal, bird, or other creature. Evidence of these great pipes has
been uncovered as far as the Ohio River valley, again signal-
ing a widespread exchange of cultural practices in the Middle
Wood la nd Per iod.ANCIENT MESOAMERICA
While evidence of human activity in Mesoamerica dates
back to at least 8000 years b.c.e., it was not until around 1500
b.c.e. that the most signifi cant early center of culture arose in
Central America with the Olmec. Th is early culture set the
stage by establishing the artistic production that all subse-
quent cultures would follow. Monumental sculpture, portrai-
ture, images of supernatural deities, and semiprecious stone
objects were the key art forms developed by the Olmec and
shared by all ancient Mesoamerican cultures.
Th e Olmec culture developed along the Gulf Coast of
Mexico around 1500 b.c.e. Sometimes referred to as the
“mother culture” of Mesoamerica, the Olmec developed
many of the crucial stylistic elements that become charac-
teristic of Mesoamerican art. Th e earliest Olmec site is San
Lorenzo, a complex, man-made center of civilization estab-
lished south of what is now Veracruz, Mexico, in the Early
Preclassic Period (1500–1200 b.c.e.) Signifi cantly, the well-
known monumental stone colossal heads were created here.
Th ese giant heads are entirely three-dimensional (sculpted in
the round). Th ey probably depict important Olmec rulers and
provide early evidence of portraiture. While the heads share
many similar features (deep-set eyes, wide nose, full lips),
they are also each slightly diff erent.
Th e second most signifi cant Olmec site is La Venta, near
the border of what are now the Mexican states of Tabasco
and Veracruz. Founded during the Middle Preclassic Pe-
riod (1200–400 b.c.e.), La Venta also produced impressive
examples of monumental art. In addition to colossal heads,
there are large stone altars that actually functioned as ruler
thrones. Th ese thrones depict a ruler seated in a niche con-art: The Americas 119