Studies Weekly, Week 5 Article 4: American Indians and the Envir

The landscape of Texas includes deserts, valleys, plateaus, and coastal areas. The tribes of Texas found different ways to use the resources in their environment. People on the coast fished for food. People who lived in the central plains areas farmed for food. Tribes across the region hunted for bison, antelope, rabbit, and deer. They used these resources to create clothing, tools, and shelter.

​American Indian tribes also modified their environment for survival and ceremonial purposes. Water can be scarce in the desert areas of Texas. Tribes were very resourceful and found ways to irrigate farmland. They gathered water from rivers and underground water sources to grow crops. They grew many crops such as corn, pumpkins, beans, squash, melons, and other types of fruit.

​The Caddo constructed villages and settlements that housed hundreds of inhabitants. They built large earthen mounds at the center of each village. These mounds were used for important ceremonies and as a burial site for important tribe members. Other tribes were nomadic. They moved throughout the state based on the seasons and the natural resources available during certain times of the year.