In the online eHRAF Archaeology database the mostly prehistoric cultures included are organized by regions (e.g. North America), subregions (e.g. Southwest) and subsistence types (e.g. hunter-gatherers). Every year, five archaeological traditions with approximately 10,000 pages are added to eHRAF Archaeology.
The table below gives an overview of the types of traditions currently included in eHRAF Archaeology and can be sorted by the following functions: culture name, region, subregions, subsistence and sample types.
All collected, analyzed and indexed archaeological documents (e.g., books, journal articles, monographs) for a prehistoric culture can be found in the Collection Documents tab in the Browse Traditions section of the eHRAF Archaeology database. The archaeological documents are also searchable in the eHRAF Basic or Advanced Search.
Information about how subsistence types are classified for the cultures in the eHRAF Archaeology database scroll down to the bottom of the page.
OWC | Tradition Name | Region | SUBREGION | SUBSISTENCE TYPE | SRS | BEGIN DATE BP | END DATE BP | DOCS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AB80 | Yayoi | Asia | East Asia | intensive agriculturalists | Yes | 2500 | 1500 | 28 |
AF40 | North China Upper Paleolithic | Asia | East Asia | hunter-gatherers | 40000 | 8500 | 24 | |
AF45 | Yellow River Early Neolithic | Asia | East Asia | hunter-gatherers to food producers | 8500 | 6200 | 19 | |
AF48 | Middle-Upper Yellow River Middle Neolithic | Asia | East Asia | horticulturalists | 7000 | 5000 | 13 | |
AF50 | Dawenkou | Asia | East Asia | horticulturalists | Yes | 6300 | 4500 | 6 |
AF51 | Yellow River Late Neolithic | Asia | East Asia | horticulture to intensive agriculture | 5000 | 3900 | 23 | |
AF52 | Yellow River Bronze Age | Asia | East Asia | intensive agriculturalists | 3900 | 3046 | 8 | |
AF70 | Southeast China Early Neolithic | Asia | East Asia | primarily hunter-gatherers | Yes | 9000 | 5500 | 13 |
AJ50 | Eastern Central Asia Neolithic and Bronze Age | Asia | Central Asia | agro-pastoralists | Yes | 6000 | 1500 | 5 |
AQ30 | South Asian Upper Paleolithic | Asia | Southeast Asia | hunter-gatherers | 40000 | 7000 | 13 | |
AQ40 | Indus Neolithic | Asia | South Asia | hunter-gatherers to food producers | Yes | 9000 | 6800 | 8 |
AQ43 | Early Indus | Asia | South Asia | intensive agriculturalists | 7500 | 4600 | 23 | |
AQ45 | Mature Indus | Asia | South Asia | intensive agriculturalists | 4600 | 3900 | 30 | |
AQ47 | Vedic | Asia | South Asia | intensive agriculturalists | 3900 | 2500 | 10 | |
AQ50 | Ganges Neolithic | Asia | South Asia | other subsistence combinations | Yes | 4000 | 2500 | 9 |
AQ63 | Central Indian Neolithic | Asia | South Asia | other subsistence combinations | Yes | 5000 | 3100 | 13 |
AQ73 | South Indian Chalcolithic | Asia | South Asia | other subsistence combinations | 4500 | 2700 | 21 | |
E050 | Bell Beaker | Europe | General Europe | intensive agriculturalists | Yes | 4500 | 3800 | 8 |
E051 | Impressed Ware | Europe | General Europe | primarily hunter-gatherers | Yes | 6800 | 6000 | 37 |
E065 | Northeastern European Bronze Age | Europe | Eastern Europe | other subsistence combinations | 3900 | 2750 | 6 | |
E075 | Southeastern Europe Late Chalcolithic | Europe | Southeastern Europe | agro-pastoralists | Yes | 5500 | 4500 | 37 |
E087 | Scandinavian Iron Age | Europe | Scandinavia | other subsistence combinations | Yes | 2500 | 1500 | 19 |
FA75 | West African Iron Age | Africa | Western Africa | other subsistence combinations | Yes | 2500 | 1200 | 16 |
FX50 | Wilton | Africa | Southern Africa | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 10000 | 2000 | 5 |
M050 | Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene Maghreb | Africa | Northern Africa | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 20000 | 7500 | 12 |
M080 | Epipaleolithic | Middle East | Middle East | hunter-gatherers | 40000 | 10500 | 54 | |
M084 | Aceramic Neolithic | Middle East | Middle East | hunter-gatherers to food producers | 10500 | 7500 | 24 | |
M086 | Halafian | Middle East | Middle East | agro-pastoralists | Yes | 7500 | 7000 | 23 |
M087 | Ceramic Neolithic | Middle East | Middle East | horticulturalists | 8000 | 6100 | 31 | |
MA50 | Iranian Bronze Age | Middle East | Middle East | agro-pastoralists | Yes | 5000 | 3500 | 6 |
MA51 | Scythian-Sarmatian | Asia | Central Asia | pastoralists | Yes | 4000 | 1700 | 5 |
MH55 | Ubaid | Middle East | Middle East | agro-pastoralists | 7500 | 6000 | 33 | |
MH60 | Late Chalcolithic Mesopotamia | Middle East | Middle East | agro-pastoralists | 6000 | 5100 | 30 | |
MH62 | Jemdet Nasr | Middle East | Middle East | agro-pastoralists | 5100 | 4900 | 16 | |
MH64 | Early Dynastic Mesopotamia | Middle East | Middle East | agro-pastoralists | Yes | 4900 | 4334 | 11 |
MH66 | Akkadian | Middle East | Middle East | agro-pastoralists | Yes | 4334 | 4112 | 47 |
MR45 | Middle Paleolithic Egypt | Africa | Northern Africa | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 230000 | 45000 | 7 |
MR50 | Late Paleolithic Egypt | Africa | Northern Africa | hunter-gatherers | 45000 | 7000 | 19 | |
MR55 | Upper Egypt Predynastic | Africa | Northern Africa | intensive agriculturalists | 7000 | 5000 | 24 | |
MR60 | Lower Egypt Predynastic | Africa | Northern Africa | intensive agriculturalists | 7000 | 5000 | 20 | |
MR70 | Early Dynastic Egypt | Africa | Northern Africa | intensive agriculturalists | 5000 | 4575 | 53 | |
MR80 | Protohistoric Egypt | Africa | Northern Africa | intensive agriculturalists | 4575 | 3552 | 8 | |
MS50 | Khartoum Neolithic | Africa | Northern Africa | other subsistence combinations | Yes | 5700 | 3550 | 4 |
N037 | Late Paleo-Indian | North America | General North America | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 11000 | 6000 | 63 |
N050 | Eastern Arctic Small Tool | North America | General North America | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 4000 | 2700 | 26 |
NA45 | Late Tundra | North America | Arctic and Subarctic | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 8000 | 6000 | 19 |
NA50 | Norton | North America | Arctic and Subarctic | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 3000 | 1000 | 24 |
NC54 | Initial Shield Woodland | North America | Eastern Woodlands | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 3000 | 600 | 9 |
ND50 | Proto-Athapaskans | North America | Arctic and Subarctic | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 2000 | 150 | 31 |
ND60 | Paleo-Arctic | North America | Arctic and Subarctic | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 11000 | 6000 | 7 |
NN45 | Eastern Early Archaic | North America | Eastern Woodlands | hunter-gatherers | 10000 | 8000 | 10 | |
NN50 | Eastern Middle Archaic | North America | Eastern Woodlands | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 8000 | 6000 | 27 |
NN55 | Eastern Late Archaic | North America | Eastern Woodlands | primarily hunter-gatherers | 6000 | 3000 | 22 | |
NN60 | Eastern Early Woodland | North America | Eastern Woodlands | primarily hunter-gatherers | 3000 | 2100 | 38 | |
NN64 | Eastern Middle Woodland | North America | Eastern Woodlands | primarily hunter-gatherers | 2100 | 1300 | 32 | |
NN67 | Eastern Late Woodland | North America | Eastern Woodlands | primarily hunter-gatherers | 1300 | 500 | 10 | |
NP50 | Adena | North America | Eastern Woodlands | primarily hunter-gatherers | 2600 | 1900 | 10 | |
NP55 | Hopewell | North America | Eastern Woodlands | horticulturalists | Yes | 2100 | 1700 | 66 |
NP60 | Mississippian | North America | Eastern Woodlands | horticulturalists | 1100 | 500 | 45 | |
NR50 | Cascade | North America | Plains and Plateau | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 8000 | 5000 | 5 |
NS50 | Late Southern California | North America | Northwest Coast and California | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 3000 | 150 | 19 |
NT50 | Early Desert Archaic | North America | Southwest and Basin | hunter-gatherers | 10000 | 8000 | 30 | |
NT55 | Middle-Late Desert Archaic | North America | Southwest and Basin | hunter-gatherers | 8000 | 150 | 54 | |
NT76 | Hohokam | North America | Southwest and Basin | intensive agriculturalists | Yes | 2000 | 500 | 156 |
NT85 | Mogollon | North America | Southwest and Basin | hunter-gatherers to food producers | 2000 | 600 | 40 | |
NT93 | Basketmaker | North America | Southwest and Basin | primarily hunter-gatherers | 3000 | 1300 | 12 | |
NT95 | Early Anasazi | North America | Southwest and Basin | horticulturalists | 1300 | 700 | 92 | |
NT97 | Late Anasazi | North America | Southwest and Basin | intensive agriculturalists | 700 | 450 | 14 | |
NU75 | Huatabampo | Middle America and the Caribbean | Northern Mexico | primarily hunter-gatherers | Yes | 1800 | 500 | 2 |
NU76 | West Mexico Postclassic | Middle America and the Caribbean | Central Mexico | intensive agriculturalists | Yes | 1100 | 480 | 14 |
NU92 | Central Mexico Classic | Middle America and the Caribbean | Central Mexico | intensive agriculturalists | 2150 | 1350 | 10 | |
NU93 | Central Mexico Postclassic | Middle America and the Caribbean | Central Mexico | intensive agriculturalists | 1300 | 479 | 49 | |
NU95 | Olmec | Middle America and the Caribbean | Central Mexico | other subsistence combinations | Yes | 3400 | 2100 | 40 |
NY30 | Early Mesoamerican Archaic | Middle America and the Caribbean | General Middle America and the Caribbean | hunter-gatherers | 9600 | 7000 | 44 | |
NY40 | Highland Mesoamerican Archaic | Middle America and the Caribbean | General Middle America and the Caribbean | hunter-gatherers | 7000 | 4000 | 13 | |
NY41 | Highland Mesoamerican Early Preclassic | Middle America and the Caribbean | General Middle America and the Caribbean | horticulturalists | 4000 | 2600 | 11 | |
NY42 | Highland Mesoamerican Late Preclassic | Middle America and the Caribbean | General Middle America and the Caribbean | horticulturalists | 2600 | 1600 | 26 | |
NY50 | Lowland Mesoamerican Archaic | Middle America and the Caribbean | Maya Area | primarily hunter-gatherers | 7000 | 3800 | 7 | |
NY52 | Preclassic Maya | Middle America and the Caribbean | Maya Area | horticulturalists | 3800 | 1850 | 62 | |
NY53 | Classic Maya | Middle America and the Caribbean | Maya Area | intensive agriculturalists | Yes | 2100 | 1100 | 29 |
NY54 | Postclassic Maya | Middle America and the Caribbean | Maya Area | horticulturalists | 1100 | 400 | 42 | |
OJ50 | New Guinea Neolithic | Oceania | Melanesia | horticulturalists | Yes | 10000 | 100 | 8 |
OU80 | Tongan | Oceania | Polynesia | horticulturalists | Yes | 2000 | 200 | 6 |
OV50 | Hawaiian | Oceania | Polynesia | horticulture to intensive agriculture | Yes | 800 | 200 | 5 |
RA55 | Eastern European Mesolithic | Europe | Eastern Europe | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 11000 | 6500 | 5 |
RL60 | Early Nomad | Asia | Central Asia | pastoralists | Yes | 2800 | 2300 | 35 |
RY64 | Tarya Neolithic | Asia | North Asia | hunter-gatherers | Yes | 4000 | 2500 | 3 |
S050 | Andean Regional Development | South America | Central Andes | agro-pastoralists | Yes | 2200 | 1300 | 11 |
S051 | Late Caribbean | Middle America and the Caribbean | Caribbean | intensive agriculturalists | Yes | 1000 | 500 | 11 |
S060 | Early Northwest South American Littoral | South America | Northwestern South America | primarily hunter-gatherers | Yes | 9000 | 5500 | 10 |
SD50 | Manteño | South America | Northwestern South America | horticulturalists | Yes | 1500 | 500 | 4 |
SE40 | Coastal Andean Archaic | South America | Central Andes | hunter-gatherers to food producers | 7000 | 3800 | 11 | |
SE41 | Coastal Andean Early Formative | South America | Central Andes | horticulture to intensive agriculture | 3800 | 3000 | 21 | |
SE43 | Coastal Andean Late Formative | South America | Central Andes | intensive agriculturalists | 3000 | 2200 | 19 | |
SE47 | Highland Andean Archaic | South America | Central Andes | hunter-gatherers to food producers | 7000 | 3500 | 13 | |
SE48 | Highland Andean Formative | South America | Central Andes | agro-pastoralists | 3500 | 2200 | 7 | |
SE49 | Chavín | South America | Central Andes | agro-pastoralists | 2800 | 2200 | 12 | |
SE51 | Nazca | South America | Central Andes | intensive agriculturalists | 2200 | 1200 | 26 | |
SE55 | Moche | South America | Central Andes | other subsistence combinations | 1950 | 1200 | 28 | |
SE65 | Huari | South America | Central Andes | agro-pastoralists | 1200 | 900 | 23 | |
SE70 | Andean Regional States | South America | Central Andes | intensive agriculturalists | 900 | 530 | 16 | |
SE75 | Chimu | South America | Central Andes | intensive agriculturalists | Yes | 1100 | 480 | 40 |
SE80 | Inka | South America | Central Andes | intensive agriculturalists | 800 | 468 | 23 | |
SF45 | Tiahuanaco | South America | Central Andes | agro-pastoralists | 1600 | 900 | 19 | |
SF50 | Aymara Kingdoms | South America | Central Andes | agro-pastoralists | Yes | 900 | 530 | 10 |
W130 | Early Paleo-Indian | New World | New World | hunter-gatherers | 14000 | 10200 | 86 |
Subsistence Classification
Hunter-gatherers — also called foragers; depend almost entirely (75% or more) on hunting, gathering, and fishing for subsistence
Hunter-gatherers to food producers — during the tradition the people began as hunter-gatherers and became dependent on food production (55% or more) by the end of the tradition. Food production includes combinations of hunting, gathering, fishing, pastoralism, horticulture, and intensive agriculture
Primarily hunter-gatherers — depend mostly on hunting, gathering and fishing (55% percent or more)
Horticulturalists — depend mostly (55% or more) on simple agriculture (extensive or horticulture). Horticulture frequently requires a long fallow period. This category includes any type of agriculture that is not primarily (55% or more) intensive.
Agro-pastoralists — not any of the above. Pastoralism and horticulture/intensive agriculture combined contribute at least 75% or more to the economy.
Pastoralists — depend mostly (55% or more) on herding or pastoralism
Horticulture to intensive agriculture — at the beginning of the tradition, people depended mostly (55% or more) on horticulture and by the end of the tradition they depended mostly (55% or more) on intensive agriculture.
Intensive agriculturalists — depend mostly (55% or more) on intensive agriculture. Intensive agriculture means a variety of techniques are used so that fields can be permanently cultivated. These techniques can include irrigation, terracing, crop rotation, plows, and/or some sort of agriculture.
Other subsistence combinations — includes other combinations of hunting, fishing, gathering, pastoralism, horticulture, and intensive agriculture
Not assigned — not enough information
Latest updated: July 6, 2021