Suggested Change in Nomenclature of the Major American Time Periods

Abstract

In the Handbook of Texas Archeology by Suhm, Krieger, and Jelks, 4 major time periods are defined under the terms, “Paleo-American,” “Archaic,” “Neo-American,” and “Historic.”I can see no reason to use the element “American” in the names of time periods in Indian prehistory. Strictly speaking, “American” can be applied to any inhabitant of North, Central, or South America, past or present. But popular usage restricts the term “American” to the people of the United States, and unless qualified, often further restricts it to the whites only.