Panhandle culture facts for kids
| Geographical range | Southern High Plains primarily Oklahoma, Texas |
|---|---|
| Period | Middle Ceramic Period |
| Dates | AD 1200–1400 |
| Preceded by | Woodland period |
The Panhandle culture was a group of people who lived in the southern High Plains a long time ago. They were around during a period called the Middle Ceramic Period, from about 1200 to 1400 AD. Most of their homes and sites have been found in the panhandle areas of Oklahoma and Texas.
Scientists believe this culture might have grown from the earlier Woodland period people. It's also possible that new people moved into the area from north-central Kansas.
Understanding the Panhandle Culture
It has been a bit tricky for archaeologists to fully understand the Panhandle culture. This is because of a few reasons:
- Sometimes, the dates from carbon dating artifacts don't always match up perfectly.
- Different experts might interpret the dating information in various ways.
- There isn't a lot of information available from all the sites.
- Not many detailed reports have been published about this culture.
Special Features of the Panhandle Culture
Even with some challenges, we know some unique things about the Panhandle culture:
- Similarities to other Plains groups: Their way of life was very similar to other groups living in the Great Plains region.
- Trade and connections: They traded with other groups. There is some evidence of trade with Pueblo cultures from the Southwestern United States. They also traded for things like special pottery, seashells, and a type of rock called Smoky Hill Jasper from Kansas.
- Homes and shelters: They built stone houses. These homes often had one or more rooms. Inside, they sometimes had altars at the back and strong posts at the four corners to hold up the roof. People also used simpler campsites for short periods.
- Food and survival: The Panhandle people were hunter-gatherers. This means they hunted large and small animals and collected wild plants, nuts, and fruits. Some of them also grew crops to farm their own food.
A very important item for trade for the Panhandle culture was a special type of rock called Alibates agatized dolomite. This rock was great for making tools. You can find a lot of it at the Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument.
Where Panhandle Sites Are Found
Most of the places where the Panhandle culture lived are near the Canadian River and North Canadian River. They also lived along smaller streams that flow into these rivers, like Antelope Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Dixon Creek, and Tarbox Creek. Some Panhandle culture sites were also found on the Archie King Ranch.
