Southeastern Cultures

CaddoAtakapanWichita

Caddo Location

Caddo Area Settled• Mississipian or Mound Builders• Organized into 3 Confederacies• 2 ½ Confederacies lived in Texas• Moved to the Piney Woods during the Late Prehistoric Era• Europeans referred to them as the “Caddo People”.• They settled in villages • They farmed in small clearings in

the forest• Caddo continued

Caddo foods• Corn• Squash• Beans• Sunflower seeds• Fish• Deer & small animals• Wild plants• Buffalo• Bear

Caddo Foods

Caddo Shelter• Homes were cone-shaped buildings of poles covered with cane and grass.• Up to 60’ in diameter• Held 8 to 10 families• Furnished with colored rugs, baskets, and pottery• Villages were located along major rivers

Caddo Shelter

Tools/technology

• Used dogs for hunting• Grinding rock to make flour• Mats • Pottery• Axes• Drills• Bow and arrow

Caddo artifacts

Clothing

• Made from deerskin and tanned• In summer they wore little clothing• Used buffalo hides during winter

Interesting facts

• Tattooing was prevalent /on faces and bodies• The name Texas came from the Caddos (Tay-yas means friends)• Traded with other tribes/they were great craftsman.

Caddo Religion• Chief of the Confederacy also served as the high priest of the Caddo religion• He was in charge of the temple that was built on a large mound.• Sacred fire always burned inside the temple• Each tribal leader served as the tribes religious leader• Believed that God spoke through the leader.• Believed in a single creator, but also other gods spirits to call on for help with their daily lives

Way of Life• They farmed, fish, hunt, and gathered wild plants.• They did everything as a community.• The men even shared in the gardening.• They traded with other culture groups