Long before European settlers built their houses and planted crops in Michigan, the state was occupied by many groups of prehistoric people. People started living in Michigan while glaciers still covered portions of the state more than 14,000 years ago.Our state looked very different 14,000 years ago than it does today. Instead of cities, farms, and forests, Michigan was tundra with little vegetation. The summers were very short and cool, and winters in Michigan were very long and very cold.
At that time people lived in small bands of 20 to 40 persons who were led by a headman. The group usually chose a headman for his superior ability at hunting and his skills in leading the group. The bands lived mainly by hunting animals.