Welcome to the realms of the Mound Builders. If you choose to move here, there are several broad and early Algonquian-derived cultures that lasted centuries apiece. In many of their cities, mounds - both for burial purposes and for the elevation of important community members - were constructed. All of these mounds, even those seventy or more feet high, were built by laborers carting earth in baskets by hand. To facilitate such construction, a strong local government had to have been in place. Nobles, priests, dignitaries oversaw the mound building. In some cases, mounds were added to years, perhaps centuries, after previous building had been left off.

Such communities had to be stable, and did not survive hand-to-mouth. And, especially as geographic dispersion increased, trade became an essential magnification.

The Adena Culture thrived from circa 1000 BC to 200 AD, and were centered in the Ohio Valley. They were localized into current-day Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and southwestern New York.

They cultivated several crops: gourds, including pumpkins, sunflowers, and goosefoot. They also cultivated tobacco, probably for ceremonial purposes. While these people were hunters and gatherers, they were predominantly non-nomadic. The abundance of these lands permitted a sedentary existence. Adena homes were constructed in a unique style.

Sites include those at: Serpent Mound OH (unique), Adena OH, Miamisburg OH, Mounds State Park IN.

The Hopewell Culture had its heyday from circa 300 BC to 700 AD, and were focused in the Ohio Valley.

The Hopewell Culture was larger and more structured than that of the Adena. Here, we see the development of a more strict class structure. Agriculture became more important. The Hopewell spread beyond their presumptive Adena roots, into the east and the rest of the midwest. They were consummate traders. Their homes were wigwams.

Sites include those at: Norton MI, Newark OH, Seip OH.

The Mississippian Culture had its roots prior to 700 AD and lasted into early post-Contact times. It especially flowered during the 1100 - 1300's. Its focal region was the southeast, although the culture spread up as far as Wisconsin. As one might guess from the name, the Mississippi river valley was important. These people were farmers.

The mounds that distinguished these people were typically rectangular and steep, like those of Mesoamerica. However, instead of being built of stone, they were built with basketful upon basketful of dirt and earth. Logs formed the steps. The Mississippians were hierarchical: the higher the dwelling, the better the rank. Surrounding the mounds, inhabitants such as merchants, hunters, farmers, laborers, and artisans would ply their trades and earn their livings, using barter for exchange. Priests and nobles lived in more elevated terrain. Trade connections to Mesoamerica are likely.

The Natchez tribe is the one that bears the most cultural similiarity to the old Mississippians, being their direct descendants. They hail from the Muskogean branch of the Algonquian language group, although a possibly-older source lists their language as an isolate. The Natchez had a central temple mound in their towns, with smaller surrounding mounds, co-existing with a complex caste system. Their ruler was termed "The Great Sun", and his home was built atop one of the mounds. The second largest mound, Emerald Mound, is located in their territory.

Sites include those at: Cahokia IL, Moundville AL, Fort Ancient OH, Angel IN, Aztalan WI, Kinkaid KY, Spiro, OK, Belcher LA, Emerald Mound MS, Winterville MS, Mound Royal FL.