List of archaeological periods (North America)

Lithic stage	before 8500 BC
Archaic period	8000–1000 BC
Formative stage	1000 BC – AD 500
Woodland period	1000 BC – AD 1000
Classic stage	AD 500–1200
Post-Classic stage	after 1200

See also

List of archaeological periods (Mesoamerica)

North American archaeological periods divides the history of pre-Columbian North America into a number of named successive eras or periods, from the earliest-known human habitation through to the early Colonial period which followed the European colonization of the Americas.

Stage classification

One of the most enduring classifications of archaeological periods and cultures was established in Gordon Willey and Philip Phillips' 1958 book, Method and Theory in American Archaeology. They divided the archaeological record in the Americas into five phases, only three of which applied to North America. The use of these divisions has diminished in most of North America due to the development of local classifications with more elaborate breakdowns of times.

1. The Paleo-Indians stage and/or Lithic stage

2. The Archaic stage

3. Formative stage or Post-archaic stage – at this point, the North American classifications system differs from the rest of the Americas.

For more details on the five major stages, still used in Mesoamerican archaeology, see Mesoamerican chronology and Archaeology of the Americas.

Table of archaeological periods North America

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

Paleo Indians (Lithic stage) (18,000 – 8000 BCE)		Clovis culture		c. 11,500 – 10,800 BCE
		Western Fluted Point tradition		c. 11,200 – 9000 BCE, California
		Post Pattern		c. 11,000 – 7000 BCE, NW California
		Folsom tradition		c. 10800 – 10200 BCE
		Dalton tradition		c. 8500 – 7900 BCE
Archaic period, (Archaic stage) (8000 – 1000 BCE)	by Time Period	Early Archaic 8000 – 6000 BCE	Plano cultures	9,000 – 5,000 BCE
			Paleo-Arctic tradition	8000 – 5000 BCE
			Maritime Archaic
			Red Paint People	3000 – 1000 BCE
		Middle Archaic 6000 – 3000 BCE	Chihuahua tradition	c. 6000 BCE – c. 250 CE
		Middle Archaic 6000 – 3000 BCE	Watson Brake and Lower Mississippi Valley sites	c. 3500 – 2800 BCE
		Late Archaic 3000 – 1000 BCE	Arctic Small Tool tradition	2500 – 800 BCE
			Aleutian tradition	2500 – 1800 BCE
			Poverty Point culture	2200 – 700 BCE
	by Location	Great Basin	Desert Archaic
			Middle Archaic
			Late Archaic
		Great Lakes	Old Copper complex	c. 4000 – c. 1000 BCE
			Red Ochre people	c. 1000 – 100 BCE
			Glacial Kame culture	c. 8000 – 1000 BCE
		Great Plains	Plains Archaic	c. 9500 – 5500 BCE
		Mesoamerica	Mexican Archaic
		Southwest: Southwestern Archaic Traditions	Archaic – Early Basketmaker Era	c. 7000 – c. 1500 BCE
			San Dieguito–Pinto tradition	c. 6500 BCE – c. 200 CE
			Chihuahua (Southeastern) tradition	c. 6000 BCE – c. 250 CE
			Oshara (Northern) tradition	c. 5500 BCE – c. 600 CE
			Cochise tradition	5000 – 200 BCE
		California	Millingstone Horizon (or Encinitas tradition)	c. 5500 – 1500 BCE
		California	Intermediate Horizon (or Campbell tradition)	c. 1500 BCE – 1000 CE
		Southeast	Mount Taylor period	5000 – 2000 BCE
			Stallings Island (St. Simons) culture	2500 – 1000 BCE
			Thoms Creek culture	2500 – 1000 BCE
			Poverty Point culture	2200 – 700 BCE
			Elliott's Point complex	2000 – 700 BCE
			Norwood culture	2000 – 500 BCE
			Orange culture	2000 – 500 BCE
Post-archaic period, (incorporating Formative, Classic and post-Classic stages) (1000 BCE – present)	in North	Norton tradition	Choris Stage	c. 1000 – 500 BCE
			Norton	500 BCE – 800 CE
			Ipiutak Stage	1 CE – 800 CE
		Dorset culture		500 BCE – 1500 CE
		Thule people		200 BCE – 1600 CE
	on Great Plains	Plains Woodland		c. 500 BCE – 1000 CE
	on Great Plains	Plains Village		c. 1000 – 1780 CE
	in Southwest and by Pecos Classification	Early Basketmaker II Era		1500 BCE – 50 CE
		Late Basketmaker II Era		50 CE – 500 CE
		Basketmaker III Era		500 CE – 750 CE
		Pueblo I Era		750 CE – 900 CE
		Pueblo II Era		900 CE – 1150 CE
		Pueblo III Era		1150 CE – 1350 CE
		Pueblo IV Era		1350 CE – 1600 CE
		Pueblo V Era		1600 CE – present
	in Southwest and by peoples	Ancestral Puebloans (formerly Anasazi)		1 CE – 1300 CE
		Hohokam		200 CE – 1450 CE
		Fremont		400 CE – 1350 CE
		Patayan		700 CE – 1550 CE
		Mogollon		700 CE – 1400 CE
	in East and by peoples	Early Woodland Period 1000 BCE – 1 CE	Adena culture	1000 – 100 BCE
			Deptford culture – Atlantic region	800 BCE – 700 CE
			Deptford culture – Gulf region	500 BCE – 200 CE
		Middle Woodland Period 1 – 500	Point Peninsula complex (a Hopewellian culture)	600 BCE – 700 CE
			Laurel complex (a Hopewellian culture)	300 BCE – 1100 CE
			Hopewell culture	200 BCE – 500 CE
			Havana Hopewell culture (a Hopewellian culture)	200 BCE to 400 CE
			Goodall focus (a Hopewellian culture)	200 BCE to 500 CE
			Saugeen complex (a Hopewellian culture)	200 BCE to 500 CE
			Kansas City Hopewell (a Hopewellian culture)	100 BCE – 700 CE
			Armstrong culture (a Hopewellian culture)	1 – 500 CE
			Swift Creek culture (a Hopewellian culture)	100 – 800 CE
			Santa Rosa-Swift Creek culture (a Hopewellian culture)	100 – 300 CE
			Marksville culture (a Hopewellian culture)	100 BCE – 400 CE
			Fourche Maline culture	300 BCE to 800 CE
			Copena culture (a Hopewellian culture)	1 – 500 CE
		Late Woodland Period 500–1000	Baytown culture	300–700 CE
			Plum Bayou culture	400–900 CE
			Troyville culture	300–700 CE
			Coles Creek culture	700 – 1100 CE
		Mississippian culture 900–1500 (ending with European contact)	Early Mississippian culture	1000 – 1200 CE
			Middle Mississippian culture	1200 – 1400 CE
			Late Mississippian culture	1400 – 1500 CE (or European contact)
		Fort Ancient (a non-Mississippian culture)		1000 – 1550 CE
		Oneota		900 – 1650 CE
	in Florida and adjacent parts of Alabama and Georgia, by culture	Belle Glade culture		1050 BCE – European contact
		Glades culture		550 BCE – European contact
		Manasota culture		550 BCE – 800 CE
		St. Johns culture		550 BCE – European contact
		Caloosahatchee culture		500 BCE – European contact
		Weeden Island culture 100–1000 CE	Weeden Island I, including	100–750 CE
			– Cades Pond culture	100–600 CE
			– Kolomaki culture	350–750 CE
			– McKeithen Weeden Island culture	200–750 CE
			Weeden Island II, including	750–1000 CE
			– Wakulla culture	750–1000 CE
		Alachua culture		600 – European contact
		Suwannee Valley culture		750 – European contact
		Safety Harbor culture		800 – European contact
		Fort Walton culture a Mississippian culture		1000 – European contact
		Pensacola culture		1250 – European contact

Culture, phase, and chronological table for the Mississippi Valley

Lower Mississippi periods	Lower Yazoo phases	Lower Yazoo dates	Tensas/Natchez phases	Cahokia Phases	Cahokia dates	Ohio/Miss. River Confluence phases	Ohio/Miss. dates
Historic	Russell (Tunica)	1650–1750 CE	Tensas / Natchez	Vacant Quarter	1350 CE - European Contact	Jackson	1500-1650 CE
Plaquemine Mississippian culture Late Plaquemine/Mississippian Middle Plaquemine/Mississippian Early Plaquemine/Mississippian	Wasp Lake	1400-1650 CE	Transylvania / Emerald	Vacant Quarter	1350 CE - European Contact	Jackson	1500-1650 CE
	Lake George	1300-1400 CE	Fitzhugh / Foster	Sand Prairie	1275-1350 CE	Medley Phase	1300-1500 CE
	Winterville	1200-1300 CE	Routh / Anna	Moorehead	1200-1275 CE	Dorena	1100-1300 CE
Transitional Coles Creek	Crippen Point	1050-1200 CE	Preston / Gordon	Lohmann Sterling	1050-1200 CE	Dorena	1100-1300 CE
Coles Creek culture Late Coles Creek Middle Coles Creek Early Coles Creek	Kings Crossing	950-1050 CE	Balmoral	Terminal Late Woodland	900–1050 CE	James Bayou	900-1100 CE
	Aden	800-950 CE	Ballina	Terminal Late Woodland	900–1050 CE	James Bayou	900-1100 CE
	Bayland	600-800 CE	Sundown	Late Woodland	400–900 CE	Cane Hills Berkley	600–900 CE 400–600 CE
Baytown/Troyville Baytown 2 Baytown 1	Deasonville	500-600 CE	Marsden
Baytown/Troyville Baytown 2 Baytown 1	Little Sunflower	400-500 CE	Indian Bayou
Marksville culture Late Marksville Early Marksville	Issaquena	200-400 CE	Issaquena	Middle Woodland	200 BCE - 400 CE	La Plant Burkett	100 BCE-400 CE 550-100 BCE
Marksville culture Late Marksville Early Marksville	Anderson Landing	1-200 CE	Point Lake/ Grand Gulf
Tchefuncte culture	Tuscola	400 BCE-1 CE	Panther Lake
Jaketown	Poverty Point	700- 400 BCE	Frasier	Early Woodland	700-200 BCE	O'Bryan Ridge	700-550 BCE
-	Poverty Point	1000-700 BCE	-	Late Archaic	1000 - 200 BCE	O'Bryan Ridge	700-550 BCE

Notes

Lower Mississippi, Lower Yazoo, and Tensas/Natchez table taken from "Emerging Patterns of Plum Bayou Culture:Preliminary Investigations of the Toltec Mounds Research Project", by Martha Ann Rolingson, 1982, Pg-66.
Cahokia phases and dates taken from "Ancient Cahokia and the Mississippians", by Pauketat, Timothy R., 2004, Pp-6.
Ohio and Mississippi River Confluence Phases and dates taken from "Kentucky Archaeology", edited by R. Barry Lewis, 1996, Pg - 16.

References

Gordon R. Willey and Philip Phillips (1957). Method and Theory in American Archaeology. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-89888-9.
Gibbon, Guy E; Ames, Kenneth M (1998). Archaeology of prehistoric native America: an encyclopedia. Routledge. pp. 638–639. ISBN 0-8153-0725-X.
"Clovis First". Texas Beyond History. University of Texas. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
Schwartz, Joel. "They're Innocent: Scientists Exonerate Clovis People in 11,000-year-old-mystery". UW News. University of Washington. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
Willey and Phillips, Op. cit., p. 167
Rolingson, Martha Ann (1982). Emerging Patterns of Plum Bayou Culture:Preliminary Investigations of the Toltec Mounds Research Project. Arkansas Archaeological Survey. p. 66. ISBN 1-56349-042-0.
Pauketat, Timothy R. (2004). Ancient Cahokia and the Mississippians. Cambridge University Press. p. 6. ISBN 0-521-52066-5.
Lewis, R. Barry (1996). Kentucky Archaeology. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1907-3.

Bibliography

Milanich, Jerald T. (1995). Florida Indians and the Invasion from Europe. Gainesville, Florida. ISBN 978-0-8130-1360-2.
Milanich, Jerald T. (1990). "State of Florida Office of Cultural and Historical Programs. Florida Historical Contexts" (PDF). Florida Historical Contexts. Retrieved 2006-03-28.
Milanich, Jerald T. & Claudine Payne (ed.) (September 27, 1993). "State of Florida Office of Cultural and Historical Programs. Historic Contexts (in full)" (DOC). Florida Historical Contexts. Retrieved 2006-03-27. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
Milanich, Jerald T. (1998) Florida's Indians from Ancient Times to the Present. University Press of Florida. ISBN 0-8130-1599-5
Milanich, Jerald T. (1994) Archaeology of Precolumbian Florida. University Press of Florida. ISBN 0-8130-1273-2
"National Park Service Southeast Archaeological Center - The Woodland Period (ca. 2000 B.C.- A.D. 1000)". Outline of Prehistory and History. Archived from the original on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2006-04-03.
Philip Phillips (1970). Archaeological Survey In The Lower Yazoo Basin, Mississippi, 1949-1955(Part One). Published by the Peabody Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 77-80028.

v t e Pre-Columbian North America
Periods Lithic Archaic Formative Classic Post-Classic
Archaeological cultures	Adena Alachua Ancient Beringian Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) Anishinaabe Avonlea Baytown Belle Glade Buttermilk Creek complex Caborn-Welborn Cades Pond Calf Creek Caloosahatchee Clovis Coles Creek Comondú Deptford Folsom Fort Ancient Fort Walton Fremont Glacial Kame Glades Hohokam Hopewell List of Hopewell sites La Jolla Las Palmas Maritime Archaic Mississippian List of Mississippian sites Mogollon Monongahela Old Cordilleran Oneota Paleo-Arctic Paleo-Indians Patayan Plano Plaquemine Poverty Point Red Ocher Safety Harbor Santa Rosa-Swift Creek St. Johns Steed-Kisker Suwannee Valley Tchefuncte Troyville Weeden Island
Archaeological sites	Angel Mounds Anzick site Bandelier National Monument Bastian Benson Blue Spring Shelter Bluefish Caves The Bluff Point Stoneworks Brewster Cahokia Candelaria Cave Casa Grande Chaco Canyon Coso Rock Art District Crystal River Cuarenta Casas Cueva de la Olla Cutler Eaker El Fin del Mundo El Vallecito Effigy Mounds Etowah Indian Mounds Eva Folsom Fort Ancient Fort Center Fort Juelson Four Mounds Gila Cliff Dwellings Glenwood Grimes Point Helen Blazes Holly Bluff Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Horr's Island Huápoca Key Marco Kimball Village Kincaid Mounds Kolomoki Mounds Lake Jackson Mounds Lehner Mammoth-Kill Site L'Anse aux Meadows Lynch Quarry Site Marksville Marmes Rockshelter Meadowcroft Rockshelter Mesa Verde Moaning Cavern Moorehead Circle Morrison Mounds Moundville Mummy Cave Nodena site Ocmulgee Mounds Old Stone Fort Orwell site Paquime Painted Bluff Parkin Park Pinson Mounds Plum Bayou Mounds Portsmouth Earthworks Poverty Point Pueblo Bonito Rassawek Recapture Canyon River Styx Roberts Island Rock Eagle Rock Hawk Rosenstock Village Russell Cave Salmon Ruins Serpent Mound Sierra de San Francisco Shell ring sites Spiro Mounds Stallings Island SunWatch Taos Pueblo Town Creek Indian Mound Turkey River Mounds Upward Sun River Velda Mound West Oak Forest Earthlodge Wickiup Hill Windover Winterville Wupatki
Human remains	Anzick-1 Arlington Springs Man Buhl Woman Kennewick Man La Brea Woman Leanderthal Lady Melbourne Man Minnesota Woman Peñon woman Spirit Cave mummy Vero man
Miscellaneous	Aridoamerica Ballgame Black drink Ceremonial pipe Chanunpa Chunkey Clovis point Container Revolution Eastern Agricultural Complex Eden point Effigy mound Falcon dancer Folsom point Green Corn Ceremony Horned Serpent Kiva Medicine wheel Metallurgy Mi'kmaq hieroglyphic writing Mound Builders N.A.G.P.R.A. Norse colonization of North America Oasisamerica Piasa Projectile point Southeastern Ceremonial Complex Stickball Three Sisters agriculture Thunderbird Transoceanic contact Underwater panther Water glyphs
Related Genetic history Pre-Columbian era

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