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MAKING a LIVING: MISSISSIPPIAN ECONOMY

The Mississippian economy of the American Bottom was built on previous Woodland adaptations (HDYK-ECON). Because of the abundance of different aquatic, wetland, prairie, and forest habitats, Native Americans in the American Bottom enjoyed a wealth of natural resources. A variety of plant and animal foods were available throughout the year.

Archaeological evidence of some of the first sedentary villages, intensive plant utilization, and domestication of weedy floodplain plants in the midwestern United States is known from earlier Archaic and Woodland sites in the American Bottom. Thus, many of the lifeways associated with Mississippian farmers had their roots in earlier cultures (but particularly those of the Woodland period). Although present as early as 2000 years ago, it was not until about 1000 years ago that another food became important in the diet of Native Americans in the American Bottom - maize. With its adoption as a dietary staple, these Native Americans became dedicated farmers, and a new economy developed. The effects of this new Mississippian agricultural economy appear to have been revolutionary - transforming many aspects of American Bottom culture and society.

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