Ancient Maize in the American Southwest: What Does It Look Like and Introduction

Archaic Period The time span between the Paleoindian and the Ceramic Period that is primarily characterized by a mobile hunting and gathering adaptation. It is subdivided into the Early Archaic (8500-5500 BP), Middle Archaic (5500-3500 BP), and Late Archaic-Early Agricultural (3500-2000 BP) periods.