Deptford culture facts for kids
The Deptford culture was a group of ancient people who lived in southeastern North America. They existed from about 800 BCE (Before Common Era) to 700 CE (Common Era). These people were known for their unique pottery and how they lived. They started building special ceremonial places and burying their dead in mounds. They also began living in permanent settlements and growing more of their own food.
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What Was the Deptford Culture?
The Deptford culture is named after an area near Savannah, Georgia. We know about them because of their special pottery. This pottery was made with sand mixed into the clay. Before the pots were fired, people pressed carved wooden paddles onto them. This left cool patterns on the surface.
This sand-tempered pottery helps archaeologists tell the Deptford culture apart. Older cultures used different materials, like plant fibers, to strengthen their pottery. Other groups living at the same time also made paddle-decorated pots. But the Deptford style was unique.
Where Did Deptford People Live?
The Deptford culture mostly lived along the coastlines. From northern Georgia, they spread along the Atlantic coast. Their territory reached as far north as Cape Fear, North Carolina. To the south, it went down to the St. Johns River in Florida.
They also lived along the Gulf of Mexico coast. This area stretched from the Perdido River in western Florida. It went all the way to Tampa Bay on Florida's lower west coast. The Deptford culture appeared in Florida around 500 BCE.
How the Culture Changed Over Time
In the Gulf region (like the Florida Panhandle and parts of Alabama and Georgia), the Deptford culture changed. Around 200 CE, it developed into the Swift Creek and Santa Rosa-Swift Creek cultures. However, along the Atlantic coast, the Deptford culture continued until about 700 CE.
An inland group, the Cades Pond culture, also grew from the Deptford people. This happened after 100 CE in areas Deptford people used seasonally.
Archaeologists divide the Deptford culture in the eastern Florida Panhandle into three periods:
- Early Deptford: Both fiber-tempered and Deptford pottery are found.
- Middle Deptford: Only Deptford pottery is present.
- Late Deptford: Both Deptford and Swift Creek pottery are found.
Places Where Deptford Artifacts Are Found
Many places show signs of the Deptford culture. These are called archaeological sites.
Along the Atlantic Coast
- Tar River, North Carolina
- Irene site, near Savannah, Georgia
- Refuge site, north of Savannah
In Northwest Florida
This area includes the Florida Panhandle.
- Hawkshaw site, in Pensacola, Florida
- The Block-Sterns site, near Tallahassee, Florida
- Sites near Lake Miccosukee in Leon County, Florida. These show Deptford people lived inland too.
Along Florida's Gulf Coast
This region stretches from the Aucilla River to the Anclote River. It also extends about 15 to 20 miles inland.
- Bird Island, near Horseshoe Beach, Florida
- Garden Patch, near Horseshoe Beach, Florida
- Shell Mound, north of Cedar Key
- Crystal River site, Florida
Many Deptford sites along the Gulf coast might now be underwater. The sea level in this area has risen a lot over the last 2,000 years.
What Did Deptford People Use?
Early Deptford pottery seems to have started in Georgia. This was around 2,600 years ago. It then spread north into South Carolina and North Carolina. It also went south into Florida. Deptford pottery continued to be made until about 600 BCE.
Daily Life and Food
People living on the Atlantic coast of Georgia and the Carolinas followed a seasonal pattern.
- In winter, they camped on the coast to gather shellfish.
- During spring and summer, they moved inland to hunt deer.
- In the fall, they gathered nuts.
These Deptford hunter-gatherer groups used different ecosystems. They took advantage of foods available at different times of the year.
Along the Gulf Coast, Deptford people also lived seasonally. Their settlements were not always permanent. However, they did take part in a trading network. They also built many low sand burial mounds. These mounds were likely family burial grounds. They were not just for one important leader.
Trade and Special Items
In northwestern Florida, the Early Woodland Deptford culture changed over time. It became the Swift Creek and Santa Rosa-Swift Creek cultures. Archaeologists have found special items from burial mounds. These include copper panpipes, ear ornaments, and stone weights for fishing. They also found stone gorgets (decorative necklaces).
These items show that this area was part of the Hopewellian Interaction Sphere. This was a large network for trading special goods. It connected different groups of people about 1,900 years ago.
