Native American Cultural Periods
U.S. Early Cultures
Paleo ...................................................14,000 - 11,000 B.P.
Late Paleo ............................................12,000 - 10,00 B.P.
Transitional Paleo ..................................11,000-9,000 B.P.
Early Archaic ........................................10,000 - 7,000 B.P.
Middle Archaic ......................................7,000 - 4,000 B.P.
Late Archaic .......................................... 4,000 - 3,000 B.P.
Middle to Eastern Cultures
Woodland ..............................................3,000 - 1,300 B.P.
Mississippian ..........................................1,300 - 400 B.P.
Historic .................................................. 450 - 170 B.P.
Western Cultures
Transitional ..............................................2,300 - 1,600 B.P.
Developmental .........................................1,600 - 700 B.P.
Classic ..................................................... 700 - 400 B.P.
Historic .................................................... 400 - 170 B.P.
All ages on cultural periods are approximations. B.P. stands for "Before Present".