ASB 238
archaeology of north america

Well, for the first person to be answering this question, I will try my best.

When people turn to simple farming, I believe that their way of living can perhaps changee forever. They could become to dependent on this food source, thus skipping out on another that could have had on their diet before, such as a root or berry that provided a vitamin now they are not receiving because they are farming (If anybody think's I might be stretching it, please let me know). They also will become more seditary, having to tend to their small gardens, thus perhaps they do not have as much free time to teach children or others the culture of their society. Also, they could become dependant on this garden to much and when it fails, their family could run out food (again, if I am stretching.....)

Farming has the advantage of producing a quantity of food in a small area. This can be a great advantage - but if not careful can lead to a downfall like Moundville. The abundance of farming can lead to trade and a larger population. Farming also leads to a sedentary people as previously discussed. Once this happens, health problems may arise - whether it be from a loss of nutrients because of a dependence on the farmed subsistence, or because of population growth you have a higher disease rate because of sanitary reasons, etc. Farming brings the resource at an easy grasp. Providing that water was plentiful, a good crop can also preapre for a winter. Easy access that farming provides also can lead to more time - and thus an increase in artistry and other crafts. For instance, Indians who had to move around a lot, like those of the Great Plains, didn't use pottery - it wouldn't be easy to carry around. Pottery, jewelry, paintings, etc. become more detailed and better all around. Today, Native American art is at its peak. With even more time on their hands, and resources, they are able to really create some fine art. So farming can bring about good things like trade and craftsmanship and a large community of opportunity, but also may lead to disease and decrease of good health.

Farming has the advantage of producing a quantity of food in a small area. This can be a great advantage - but if not careful can lead to a downfall like Moundville. The abundance of farming can lead to trade and a larger population. Farming also leads to a sedentary people as previously discussed. Once this happens, health problems may arise - whether it be from a loss of nutrients because of a dependence on the farmed subsistence, or because of population growth you have a higher disease rate because of sanitary reasons, etc. Farming brings the resource at an easy grasp. Providing that water was plentiful, a good crop can also preapre for a winter. Easy access that farming provides also can lead to more time - and thus an increase in artistry and other crafts. For instance, Indians who had to move around a lot, like those of the Great Plains, didn't use pottery - it wouldn't be easy to carry around. Pottery, jewelry, paintings, etc. become more detailed and better all around. Today, Native American art is at its peak. With even more time on their hands, and resources, they are able to really create some fine art. So farming can bring about good things like trade and craftsmanship and a large community of opportunity, but also may lead to disease and decrease of good health.

I stated Moundville as an example, but I meant Dr. Dickson's Mounds. OOPS!

It seems to me that agriculture started initially as humans unwittingly provided more favorable conditions for plant life to grow. As these people moved from camp to camp they left waste, both human and animal.This, along with unintentional turning over of the soil would have made these areas more fertile and therefore more productive. This change was discovered by these people and eventually they realized that these conditions could be reproduced and improved on. This would require the people to become more sedentary as they tended to these "gardens". As the people became more proficient at improving on the growth of these plants they were able to spend less effort on foraging and were able to surplus food for periods of famine or travel to other sites.

As horticulture gave way to agriculture more sedentary groups were established. It was this sedentary living which opened the door for disease. As human habitation improved the conditions for plants it did so for diseases as well. The accumulation of human waste and the close proximity of humans to this waste and each other provided favorable conditions for the spread of diseases.

It seems to me that agriculture started initially as humans unwittingly provided more favorable conditions for plant life to grow. As these people moved from camp to camp they left waste, both human and animal.This, along with unintentional turning over of the soil would have made these areas more fertile and therefore more productive. This change was discovered by these people and eventually they realized that these conditions could be reproduced and improved on. This would require the people to become more sedentary as they tended to these "gardens". As the people became more proficient at improving on the growth of these plants they were able to spend less effort on foraging and were able to surplus food for periods of famine or travel to other sites.

As horticulture gave way to agriculture more sedentary groups were established. It was this sedentary living which opened the door for disease. As human habitation improved the conditions for plants it did so for diseases as well. The accumulation of human waste and the close proximity of humans to this waste and each other provided favorable conditions for the spread of diseases.

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