Mississippians Around Ad 1200 example essay topic

280 words
Moundville is an extraordinary site that was created by the Mississippians around AD 1200. The area was occupied from AD 1200 when the site was flourishing, until AD 1500 when the city started to decline. Moundville is situated in a border area between two major physiographic provinces: the Cumberland Plateau, a highland region with deciduous trees and the Coastal Plain, a rolling countryside supporting several diverse plant communities. On this sites stands 20 truncated flat-topped earthen pyramids and a large central plaza. The mounds range from 3 to 60 feet in height while the majority of them are from 12 to 15 feet high.

The highest mound, which is 60 feet, belonged to the chief. There are four lakes, originally borrow pits that are also located inside of the walls. The main reason that Moundville was founded at this location was probably because of its proximity to the Black Warrior River. They were able to produce abundant amounts of corn, squash, and other crops.

The river also supplied a bountiful harvest of shellfish that they steamed or added to stew. Hunting and gathering were also important. By AD 1200, Moundville was thought to be a major ceremonial center with about 3,000 people. The population consisted of nobles, priests, artisans and commoners. An additional 6,000 to 10,000 people lived outside in the surrounding region. The Mississippians claimed a 50-mile stretch of the Black Warrior Valley between Tuscaloosa and Demopolis.

Within this area, many Moundville related sites, some with mounds, have been located and they think that there will be more found once there are more excavations..