When Paleoindians first walked into Texas, they shared a lifestyle with every other person on the planet. It would be thousands and thousands of years before humanity would get around to inventing agriculture, forging metal, or even making pottery.

Being a hunter-gatherer meant having a deep understanding of the land, the animals, and the seasons. They had knowledge of how to craft the things they needed from natural materials. They knew which plants could fill their bellies and cure aches and pains. They were experts, and they needed this knowledge to survive.

Of course, there is more to life than just surviving! It is important to remember that ancient peoples played games, told stories, made music, and lived full lives with their friends and family.

Until recently, illustrations of Paleoindian life almost always featured guys with stone spears… and not much else. We need to remember that the earliest peoples made things that are far rarer than stone in the archeological record. Woven mats and sandals, bone tools, and ceremonial items have all been found in Texas sites, usually in caves where cool, dry air helps preserve these precious clues to the lives of Paleoindians.

It’s fun to think about the skills and talent needed to take home a mammoth for dinner, but archeologists now know that people ate a lot of other things that were way easier to manage. How do we know what Paleoindians ate for dinner? Many different fields of study can help answer that question. Zooarcheologists study animal bones found in archeological sites. Paleoethnobotanists study charred seeds from campfires. Lithic analysts study tiny residue of animal blood and plant starches left on tools.

We know that Paleoindians hunted and trapped lots of different animals and ate plenty of plants. Although hunters are often depicted as men, women and children did their fair share of work to keep everybody fed. Animals like deer, rabbits, turtles, and fish would have been a reliable source of protein. Native Texas plants, like pecans, tubers, and wild onions, provided nutrition and flavor.

Native American ancestors became experts in selecting native plants for food and medicine. They knew the best season and location for harvesting specific plants or hunting their favorite game. They learned where to find the right kind of stone for tool making. And they learned to navigate from place to place, finding the best places to cross a river or a mountain. They passed this knowledge and deep relationship with the landscape down through the generations where it still flows today.

When Paleoindians first came to the Americas, domesticated dogs were trotting along beside them. Bones and other artifacts discovered around ancient camp sites tell us a lot about man’s best friend. By studying DNA, we know that dogs and people were together long before they came to North America. In fact, Native Americans’ dogs were descended from a line of grey wolves in Eurasia. Scientists can trace their DNA back through generations to learn more about how dogs – and their friendships with people – changed over time.

When collectors take stone tools, all this potential information is lost. Additionally, they may disturb a grave or other sacred spot. It’s very important to never dig or disturb a place where ancient Indigenous people lived.