American Indian studies.
Fahad502
mississippian_system_rev_2_1_.ppt
Woodlands-era village
(artistic interpretation from archaeological evidence)
- 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.
- Paramount chief, primary lineage
- Secondary center = chief of junior lineage
- Subordinate ctrs send tribute to paramount center
Social structure w/in center
- Clan groups
- Mound assoc. with clan
- Proximity to chief’s 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,Wol
f
- 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 didn’t like beans (really!)
The Largest Center: Cahokia
*
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*
Moundville, Al
Catchment Zone
- Area under influence of mound center
- Provide food, resources to center
*
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
Supporting settlements
Farmsteads
Supporting Settlement
- Towns/villages
- No mounds
- tributary (smaller) rivers/creek bottoms
- No fortifications
- No plaza/ritual space
- Fields on edge of settlement
Supporting Sites
- Hamlets
- Several houses
- Upper end of drainages
- Individual farmsteads
- Upper limit of drainage
- Single family
Upland Hunting camps
- Ridge lines
- 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
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
- 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
Variations and survivals
Choctaw,Louisiana,19th cent.
Potawatomi, WI, 19th cent.
Underwater panther
Caddo Miss. Pot, AR
Quapaw, AR. 1500-1700 CE
Artist’s interpretation, Miss. house
Seminole chickee, Fla.
Variations and survivals
Ocmulgee, and Macon GA Miss. Earthlodge mounds
Mandan-Hidatsa Arikara earth lodges
