Red Ocher people facts for kids
| Geographical range | Great Lakes: Ontario, SW Michigan, W Ohio, Northern Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and Wisconsin. |
|---|---|
| Period | Paleo-Indians |
| Dates | 1000 BCE to 400 BCE |
| Type site | Morton Site, Fulton County, Illinois |
| Major sites | Moccasin Bluff-A site, Berrien County, Michigan, Killarney Bay Mound, Manitoulin, Oak Grove Site, Lake County, Indiana, Sny-Magill Mound 43, Clayton County, Iowa |
| Preceded by | Hopewell tradition |
| Followed by | Goodall focus |
| Defined by | Layers of red ocher in burial mounds |
The Red Ocher people were an ancient group of people who lived in North America. Archaeologists have found many sites linked to them in the Great Lakes area and the valleys of the Illinois River and Ohio River. These sites are mostly in the Midwestern United States.
The Red Ocher people lived between 1000 BC and 400 BC. This time is known as the late Archaic and early Woodland period. They are famous for their unique burial sites. These burials were often shallow and found in sandy areas near rivers. What makes them special is that the burials were covered in a red powder called red ochre. This red ochre is a natural earth pigment, like a reddish-brown dirt.
Inside these burials, archaeologists have found special items. These include carefully made flint tools, unique large flint blades called "turkey-tails," and various objects made from copper. Experts believe the Red Ocher people might have spoken an early version of the Algonquian languages.
What is Red Ochre?
Red ochre is a natural red pigment that comes from the ground. It has been used for a very long time in North America. Even earlier groups, like those from the Folsom tradition, mined red ochre in places like New Mexico and Wyoming.
The people we call the Red Ocher people got their name because they used this red powder in their burials. The term "Red Ocher" was first used in 1937. This was after archaeologists found three sites in central Illinois that showed this special burial style. Since then, more sites have been found that are similar.
Where Did They Live?
The Red Ocher people lived across a wide area. Their sites have been found in states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio.
Their territory stretched from eastern Iowa to central Ohio. It also went from southern Ohio all the way up to the Manitoulin District in Ontario, Canada. Many of their sites are found in southeastern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, northern Indiana, and the southern part of Michigan.
Sometimes, the Red Ocher culture lived in the same areas as another ancient group called the Glacial Kame culture. It seems that an even older group, known as the Old Copper complex, might have developed into both the Red Ocher and Glacial Kame cultures.
Studying the Red Ocher People
Archaeologists from the University of Chicago first identified the Red Ocher people in 1937. In the 1950s and 1960s, many archaeologists became very interested in this culture. They worked hard to learn more about their burial practices.
Today, archaeologists continue to study the Red Ocher people. They use modern methods like carbon dating to find out the exact age of sites and artifacts. Even with all this research, there are still many questions about the Red Ocher people that archaeologists are trying to answer.
