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Mississippian. 1000-1550 AD. The Mississippian culture were spread out across a large area that covered parts of many present-day states, including Ohio. Mississippian. The Mound Builders http://youtu.be/TuAlBcmKbPY (3:34). Mississippian Government.
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Mississippian 1000-1550 AD The Mississippian culture were spread out across a large area that covered parts of many present-day states, including Ohio.
Mississippian The Mound Builders http://youtu.be/TuAlBcmKbPY (3:34)
Mississippian Government • The chief/high priest was an absolute ruler and maintained his position almost solely due to the belief system of his subjects. • From the evidence of archaeology and the obviously public construction works (mounds, palisades, squares, and ball courts requiring large groups of organized laborers and the central planning they imply) we can assume that the position of the chief/high priest in Mississippian communities was a dignified one
Mississippian Religion • A central ceremonial plaza provided the center of a Mississippian town • Each settlement had one or more pyramidal or oval earth mounds • They prayed to the spirits of the game they hunted for forgiveness for taking their lives • The Mississippians were a culture of sun worshipers
Mississippian Religion • Fire was symbolic of the sun on earth • A perpetual sacred fire was kept in nearly every village of any size. • This fire was extinguished once a year as a thanksgiving celebration • This sacred fire was a central religious feature in village life throughout the year.
Mississippian Social Structures • Some archaeologists think Mississippian homesteads consisted of one to three houses occupied by members of a single or extended family. • The community also included buildings archaeologists think were sweatlodges. • A sweat lodge is a small, circular building where water was splashed on heated rocks to create steam. Sweat lodges continue to be used today by Native Americans.
Mississippian Agricultural Practices and Products • They grew: • Much of the land they farmed was near rivers. • They also gathered wild plants, fished, and hunted.
Mississippian TechnologyImprovements in existing technology characterized the Mississippian Period. • Triangular arrow points became more popular than other forms • The addition of crushed freshwater mussel shell to the mixture of clay and water permitted the construction of thinner, smoother, and lighter pots, making a variety of container shapes possible. • Many Mississippian communities had buildings of unprecedented size, testimony to the design and construction skills of Mississippian engineers. • But perhaps their greatest technological accomplishment was the design and construction of wooden stockades around the heart of the largest communities and the building of massive earthen mounds that served as elevated platforms for the residences of important public officials
Mississippian Culture • Craftwork was executed in copper, shell, stone, wood, and clay and in such forms as: • elaborate headdresses • ritual weapons • sculptured tobacco pipes • pottery • statues • masks of wood or copper-jacketed wood
Mississippian Culture • The elaborate designs included feathered serpents, winged warriors, spiders, human faces with weeping or falcon eyes, as well as human figures and many geometric motifs. • These elements were delicately engraved, embossed, carved, and molded.
