Ancient Oklahoma and Its People

Ancient Oklahoma had people living in it long before Columbus discovered the New World. Archaeologists have discovered the relics of their tools and artwork and have determined that several different tribes lived here. Here are a few of them.

The Earth House People

The largest group of people living in ancient Oklahoma were the Earth House people. Based on the ruins that have been uncovered, it seems that many people lived in earth houses. Remnants of these dwellings have been discovered in more than twenty Oklahoma counties.

The Earth House People lived in eastern and southeastern Oklahoma as well as Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. Based on the tools the archaeologists have found, these people stayed in one place and grew food.

They also likely had an advanced civilization. They made beautiful pottery. They lived in dome houses that were framed in timber and were incredibly well built. These people covered the roofs of their homes with either grass turf or sod.

They would live in these houses until the wooden frames decayed and the homes were no longer safe to live in. Then they would abandon these homes and build new ones nearby.

Remnants of Ancient Oklahoma

Eventually, those abandoned homes would collapse under the weight of those sodden roofs, leaving behind a low, circular mound. Many such mounds still remain today.

There are so many of these mounds clumped together in one area, that it is proof that they were constructed by people.

The Cave and Rock Ledge People

Not all people lived in earth homes. Other people of ancient Oklahoma lived in the shelter of either caves or rock ledges that jutted out.

These people lived primarily in the northeastern part of Oklahoma, although they may have lived in other places as well.

There were fewer Cave and Rock Ledge People probably because there were fewer cave and rock ledges for them to live in or on.

While the Earth House People cultivated the soil for their food, the Cave and Rock Ledge People hunted and fished to survive.

Archaeologists know this because they've found remnants of shells and bones likely broken to extract the marrow. They also found weapons, utensils and other implements.

The Mound Builders

Perhaps the most impressive people of ancient Oklahoma were the Mound Builders. These people lives between 500 AD and 1500 AD and had an advanced civilization. They lived by rivers, specifically, the Illinois River, the Arkansas River, the Red River and the Grand River.

They were called Mound Builders, because they built mounds resembling cones or pyramids, only flatter.

The Mound Builders were a hardworking and intelligent people. They were skilled in farming, art, and, when necessary, making war with their neighbors.

According to archeologists, the three types of Mound Builders were the Hopewell and Adena Moundbuilders who lived in Ohio and Indiana, and the Mississippi Mound Builders, some of whom lived in what is now northeastern Oklahoma.

They built these mounds for a variety of purposes, including for burial of important people, for worshipping their sun god, and sometimes to live in.

They had an advanced civilization, and like the Earth House People, made beautiful pottery and advanced implements. They grew and stored corn, hunted, fished and grew gardens. They ruled themselves through chiefdoms and sometimes went to war with neighborting tribes. Initially, their chiefs were chosen for their prowess in battle, but later on, the role of chief was passed down from father to son.

Most of these ancient Oklahomans lived in the eastern half of the state, usually by rivers where there was plenty of fresh water. It is suspected that these people died out when the Spanish explorers arrived in the area, bringing with them European diseases.

Indigenous Tribes Who Descended From
the People of Ancient Oklahoma

The indigenous tribes who came from those ancient people are still around today, although they weren't always able to live in Oklahoma. Sometimes they were driven to other areas because of hostile tribes or drought.

These descendants are mostly members of the Caddo Tribe and lived not only in Oklahoma but also in Texas and Louisiana near the Red River and the Sabine River. The Wichita Tribe are also descendants of these ancient people. The Wichitas lived near the Wichita Mountains and along the Upper Red River.

These people usually lived in villages and cultivated the soil for their food. They were also good at hunting and trading with their neighbors.

The Wichitas lived in grass-thatched houses that were up to 30 feet in diameter. They built these huts by carving forked cedar poles that they propped up and covered with dry grasses.

They hunted bison, which they used for their food, clothing, parts of their armor and medicine.

Like the Mound Builders, the Wichitas made ceramic pottery that so impressed the Spanish and French explorers that they were willing to trade for them.

If you're near Anadarko, Oklahoma, be sure to stop by the Wichita Tribal History Center. The center has a number of exhibits, including an outdoor exhibit featuring a life-sized grass house. They also provide guided tours and offer lectures about the Wichita people.