Plains Archaic culture

The Plains Archaic culture existed from approximately 6000 BCE to the beginning of the Common Era. This period is characterized by a shift from a few types of Paleo-Indian points to a wide variety of stemmed and side-notched points. The primary game animal for these peoples was the bison, though they were skilled foragers who also hunted other game and gathered wild plants.1

As the climate warmed, some groups migrated north into present-day Saskatchewan and Alberta, eventually reaching the Arctic tundra by 3000 BCE, where their focus shifted from bison to caribou. Other groups moved eastward towards the Mississippi Valley and the western Great Lakes region. The Plains Archaic culture eventually transitioned into the Plains Woodland and Plains Village cultures around the beginning of the Common Era.12