Russell Cave National Monument:
The Southeast's Most Complete Record Through Time
by Melanie B. Bradford, Section #6 of 7

The Mississippian Indians
(800 AD - 1500 AD)

The Mississippian culture produced elaborate cities containing thousands of people, trade routes extending from Mexico to the Great Lakes, and elaborate religious and governmental rituals. Society was divided between the nobility, priests, warriors, craftsmen and worker classes. The economy was based almost entirely on corn cultivation.

Possibly owing to some type of agricultural disaster, the Mississippian lifestyle and culture was destroyed around 1500 AD. The surviving people scattered and became the native tribes encountered by the early Spanish explorers.

Other Artifacts

• The Paleo-Indians
• The Archaic Indians
• The Woodland Indians
• The Real Significance of the Findings

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