The entire Southern part
of the United States from Louisiana to the Atlantic
comprises the Southeastern Woodlands.
The Natives from this
part of the Country produced the most highly developed
civilization north of Mexico in Prehistoric times.
Huge Earth Mounds with Sun worship, Royal families,
elaborate artistic production - probably owed
some forms to influences from Mexico. The entire
area was early affected by explorers from Spain
bringing an early decline through the introduction
of diseases.
The Natchez still showed
evidences of this higher civilization when first
encountered by Europeans, but decline may have
begun long before. The so called Five civilized
Tribes: Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, and
Seminole adopted European clothing very early
on and later went on to organize their own Universities
and newspapers facilitated by the Cherokee Prophet
Sequoyah with his invention of the Cherokee alphabet
in 1821.
Artistic manufacture includes
Pottery and Sashes with a particularly distinct
scroll pattern. Basketry was made of split and
plated cane ,feather capes were produced as well.
Yarn sashes were some of the most complex and
elaborate ever made, some with beads woven into
the design. Silverwork was also produced and large
cut out brooches and plaques were made to decorate
womens capes A few groups such as the Cherokee
and Catawba continue to produce pottery, baskets
and masks. Little is known about early Southeastern
Arts and Crafts because so little has survived
from the pre-European period. |
