The first human beings, also called Clovis People, migrated to the Chicago area after the Laurentide Ice Sheet withdrew around 10,000 years ago. They experienced lush forests, abundant waterways and thriving savannas. Most remained for a while and moved elsewhere.
Some of these Paleo-Indians came across a land mass over the Bering Sea called Beringia. These individuals had blood lines labeled “A”, “B” and/or “C” and descended from Asian/Siberian peoples. Another mystery group of people having bloodlines labeled “X” have also been documented, but the blood line is the only information about this group of first Americans.
The Paleo-Indians hunted game on the savannas, fished in the streams and rivers, and gathered nuts, berries, roots and leaves. They were accomplished hunters and fishermen. Their tools were advanced spears, knives, snares, nets and fishhooks. They didn’t farm the land. These nomadic hunters didn’t stay long in any region, and most likely followed the game to other areas.
Nearly 2,600 years ago, other Paleo-Americans came to the Chicago Area during the Woodland Period. During this time, the climate stabilized and was much like today’s climate. These people hunted, fished and gathered food, but they also farmed the land, traveled the river system and traded goods. They were excellent craftsmen and built mounds for their dead. Archeologists have uncovered seashells from the Gulf of Mexico, copper from Lake Superior, mica from the Appalachian Mountains and obsidian from Montana near Yellowstone National Park. Also, within these mounds, tools, pipes, jewelry ornaments, bones, antlers, pottery and textiles. They tended to stay longer in one region.
Ancient nomadic Indians lived in the Chicago area for a time before moving, but they left many artifacts to reveal their way of life.
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