Adena Trade and Technology

Adena Trade and Technology. . , While the Adena were building great mounds here, around the world the Great Wall of China (500-200 BC) and Roman Coliseum (72-80 AD) were built. China's Confucius (551-479 BC) and Greece's Socrates (470-399 BC), and Aristotle (384-322 BC) all lived at this time., Written language tells us the ideas of the great thinkers. Archeology tells us that the Adena, unlike their hunter-gatherer ancestors, began village life, had extensive trade routes, grew plants, made pottery to cook and store food, and build majestic burial mounds.,

Extensive Trade Routes , . Adena had far-reaching trade networks to acquire exotic materials. , . Artifacts made from trade goods, copper bracelets, ear ornaments, beads and shell beads, may have been status symbols announcing personal accomplishments or family ties. , . Artifacts made from mica and copper headdresses (like the one buried with the leader in this mound), may have been regalia used by leaders in public ceremonies.

, Spin and Weave , Fabric was made by stripping along strands of plant fiber from the stems of milkweed and similar fibrous plants. Plant fibers were "thigh spun" into yarn by hand-rolling two twine fibers up and down against the thigh, until they twisted together. New fibers were added to the end to create yarn without the aid of a spindle. The yarn was then woven or intricately knotted into cloth or used to make fishing nets, mats, or bags., Pottery , Ceramics were fairly thick, and the clay was often mixed with stone "temper" to keep the vessels from cracking during firing. Most Adena pottery was plain or cord-marked textured, but some like this Boone County utensil were tool carved with a nested diamond design. Pottery styles help archeologists determine the time period of the layer being excavated., Agriculture , Cultivating plants allowed Adena to stay in one location and control their food supply. Crops included goosefoot, gourd squash, sunflower, maygrass, amaranth, and sump weed., Sunflower seeds may have been ground or pounded into flour for cakes, mush or bread. Rolled sunflower balls could have provided nourishment when traveling.