Mississippian Period Archaeology

The Mississippian Period developed in the Mississippi River Valley from approximately 900 to 1600 AD. It was composed of chiefdoms that were structured around a hierarchical social system and the hereditary transfer of leadership positions. These chiefdoms were often situated in fortified towns, ruled by strong leaders, and only existed in this region during this time. They are the first in southern history to include an elite class centered on inherited power; before the Mississippian transformation, societies in the south were relatively small, and power was not inherited. 

Like the European-Americans who would eventually occupy this region, the Mississippians were farmers. Around 1000 AD, corn agriculture exploded in popularity and became the main source of nutrition. Squash and beans were cultivated in the centuries to follow. The chief managed every part of the harvest to prevent crop failure and exert his power. Unlike the smaller nonchiefdom societies that preceded them, this stable food source allowed Mississippian communities to maintain military forces and a relatively high population 

Mississippians understood celestial movements in the universe. They built monuments that engaged with stars, planets, and other astronomical events and are best known for building mounds. Some noteworthy Mississippian mound sites that still exist today include Cahokia (in present-day Collinsville, IL), Etowah (in present-day Bartow County, GA), and Moundville (in Moundville, AL). In general, mounds built by Mississippians had a similar physical structure and were used for burials and as platforms for elite residences and temples. Some were conically-shaped while others were flat topped. A centrally located townhouse (a public building for gathering) was frequently erected on a mound and was built, destroyed, and rebuilt on the same spot. An additional layer of earth was added before every new construction, gradually increasing the size and height of the mound over time. 

A plaza (public square) was typically adjacent to a mound and served as the heart of Mississippian settlements. They were frequently swept clean, forming a berm of earth around it. The chief’s house was usually on the largest mound on the plaza’s edge. It stood at the summit and sometimes had a defensive stockade wall. Tall, steep mounds had stairs built into them so they could be more easily accessed. A large ramada (a roofed, open-sided structure) was often built in front of the chief’s house and used by the chief to receive visitors. Some chief’s mounds could accommodate a temple or mortuary house for the preparation of the dead. Otherwise, a separate temple mound would face the chief’s mound across the length of the plaza. Corn cribs were located around the chief’s mound. 

Each temple housed a sacred fire that was tended to by priests. Symbolizing the sun, this fire was always kept burning in order to maintain society’s connection to the stars and celestial bodies. The smoke of the fire carried the prayers of the chief and priests to the heavens. Mississippian temples also had a pair of human statues – one male and one female – that represented the first chief and mother of the chief’s heir. The bones of past chiefs and other elite were kept bundled in a cane basket, wooden box, or pottery vessel inside the temple. Severed heads of enemy warriors were frequently mounted on spears outside the temple.