The First Minnesotans

Permanent

Unearthing the (pre)history of the Iron Range.

Learn more about prehistory and archaeology in our First Minnesotan's exhibit. Before the Ojibwe or European immigrants, there were the Paleoindians. Arriving about 10,000 years ago in small groups of nomadic people, they hunted big game animals, like giant bison and mammoths. As time went on, Minnesota's environment changed and people began to live in larger groups and hunt smaller game as the big game died off. This period is referred to as the Archaic Period. Finally, 3,000 years ago the climate shifted again and became much like what we experience now. This marked the beginning of the Woodland Period

Objects on Display:

• Bison Kill Site Replica

• Pottery Sherds

• Stone and copper tools

• Atlatl

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