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Slide 2 Woodlands-era village (artistic interpretation from archaeological evidence) Slide 3 900-1400 A.D./C.E. Stages (Cahokian/Post-Cahokian) Shared Social structure, culture Gulf of Mexico to Minnesota Florida to eastern Texas/Oklahoma Major river drainages Most integrated-1200-1300 C.E. Mississippian Culture Slide 4 Mississippian sites Slide 5 Social structure Cahokian Paramount chief, primary lineage Secondary center = chief of junior lineage Subordinate ctrs send tribute to paramount center Slide 6 Social structure w/in center Clan groups Mound assoc. with clan Proximity to chiefs mound demonstrates status Arrangement = diagram of world Most important = central/ least = periphery Symbolism= circle =town= sun Clan membership confers status, relationship to others Prob. Matrilineal (Beloved Woman Muskogee Clan Mother) Within Moities (division into 2) subgroups House or Arbor vs. Tent Beaver, Bear, Alligator, Raccoon, Bird(not bird of prey) Panther,WolfPanther,Wolf Slide 7 Paramount city Located east bank of the Mississippi, near present day St. Louis. 6 square miles suburbs, surrounding residential area Population over 40,000? Abandoned btwn 1300-1400 C.E. Little Ice Age Tuberculosis epidemic? People here didnt like beans (really!) The Largest Center: Cahokia Slide 8 Late/Post Cahokian Parts break away Compete Different languages, cultural traits Caddoan (Spiro) Plaquemine (Emerald) Middle (Cahokia, Angel) South Appalachian (Moundville, Etowah) Oneota Fort Ancient* Slide 9 Moundville, Al Slide 10 Catchment Zone Area under influence of mound center Provide food, resources to center Slide 11 The Mississippian World Flint corn/8 row corn abt. 1200 C.E. Squash, and later, beans Marsh elder/may grass, chenopodium (quinoa) Orchards of fruit/nut trees, chestnut Slide 12 Supporting settlements Hamlets town Small mound center Center Farmsteads Slide 13 Supporting Settlement Towns/villages No mounds tributary (smaller) rivers/creek bottoms No fortifications No plaza/ritual space Fields on edge of settlement Slide 14 Supporting Sites Hamlets Several houses Upper end of drainages Individual farmsteads Upper limit of drainage Single family Upland Hunting camps Ridge lines Slide 15 Tribute Flow Food, items from villages, hamlets and farmsteads Redistribution of items, ( ie elaborate pots) outward Frontier pattern* Stanley South, Hist. Archaeologist Pattern in colonial sites on frontiers Elaboration of goods assoc. with core area, assert identity at cultural boundary Reinforces connection/identification accumulate items of association Reminder of obligations to core/center The Mississippian World Slide 16 Meso-American Influence? Trade as far as Mexico, Rockies and Great Lakes. http://www.chickasaw.tv/history-timeline/video/mound- sites-evidence-of-well-established-trade http://www.chickasaw.tv/history-timeline/video/mound- sites-evidence-of-well-established-trade Creek origin story Controversial: Plaza and arrangement of mounds Human sacrifice (Cahokia) Individuals w/ filed teeth (Aztec fashion) Stronger: Maize and squash Presence of trade items Aztec records of sailing Caribbean for trade Copper disk from Great Lakes Pipe of catlinite from Northern Plains Shell dipper from Gulf of Mexico Slide 17 Variations and survivals Choctaw,Louisiana,19 th cent. Potawatomi, WI, 19 th cent. Underwater panther Caddo Miss. Pot, AR Quapaw, AR. 1500-1700 CE Artists interpretation, Miss. house Seminole chickee, Fla. Slide 18 Variations and survivals Ocmulgee, and Macon GA Miss. Earthlodge mounds Mandan-Hidatsa Arikara earth lodges