By Mary Giorgio
The first humans to arrive in Indiana were nomads. They wandered the forests and prairies in search of food, crossing large areas of land. These nomads settled into semi-permanent villages around 2000 B.C. Known as the Lake Archaic people, most villages were established near rivers. These early inhabitants of Indiana likely descended from the travelers who crossed a land bridge from Siberia to Alaska 30,000-15,000 years ago.
In Indiana, early indigenous tribes would find a hospitable home. Good fishing abounded. Hunting was plentiful. Forests were lush with wildlife. Eventually, those inhabitants began farming the land. Corn became a staple crop and continues to play a crucial role in Indiana agriculture today.

Some of the earliest named tribes to settle in Indiana were the Adena and Hopewell people. The Adena existed across Indiana and Ohio during the Early Woodland Period of history, roughly between 1000 BC and 200 BC. Rather than one centralized group, the Adena were a series of interconnected communities. They were potters and farmers. Their culture centered on the construction of mounds for ceremonial and burial purposes.
Over a period of about 500 years, the Adena evolved into what archaeologists call the Hopewell people. The Hopewell society continued to follow a model of interconnected, decentralized communities. They built a large, powerful trade network among other tribes. No evidence exists of the Hopewell society after 500 AD. Some archaeologists believe that they evolved into either the Miami or Shawnee tribes.
If you enjoy this article, try Hoosier Tales, a collection of the 50 most popular stories from Orangebeanindiana.com
By the time the first French traders arrived in Indiana in the 1600s, Native American tribes had evolved greatly. The primary inhabitants that the French encountered were people of the Miami, and later Potawatomi, tribes. The Miami settlements were roughly located in the top third of the state, from the St. Joseph River region in Northwest Indiana to Lafayette and east to present-day Fort Wayne. The Miami tribes were members of the Algonquian language group. They included several distinct bands including the Wea and Piankahaw people.
