Mississippi History Timeline

Towns and ceremonial centers were built near old river or stream channels where the best soil for agriculture was found and there was direct access to water. People also began fortifying their towns and villages with defense structures such as moats.

People began to depend more on agriculture, particularly corn, beans and squash, even though hunting and gathering continued (Hudson, 1976).

Baskets of dirt were carried to the desired location. The dirt was dumped out and then stamped down to pack it in place. The sides of the mounds were usually very steep, and an earthen ramp was added to the mound for easier access to the summit.

The chief and other higher status families lived within the mounds while the majority of the population lived in large fortified villages outside the ceremonial center. In some large ceremonial centers, such as Winterville Mounds north of Greenville, several mounds surround a central plaza. This plaza was used as a village commons, playing field or ceremonial area (Hudson, 1976).

Still under investigation, the site had numerous houses, refuse pits, and stockades surrounding portions of it, along with numerous burials. All but about six of the larger mounds have been plowed away.

Bowls, bottles, jars, pans and other vessel types were plain or could be highly decorated. Bottles, a vessel type common only to this period, would often be designed to resemble a person, animal or mythological creature. Archaeologists refer to these as effigy pots.