Hoes of chipped flint and numerous digging tools
Charred maize kernels and cobs
Large settlement areas with flat-topped pyramidal mounds, with cabin
remains on summits, surrounded by palisade remains in low
ridges of earth
Post holes and/or trenches outlining rectangular house floors. Fired
clay from wattle and daub structure, burned house with charred
thatch, timbers, rafters, mats, etc.
Fire pits or fireplaces within house
Fine polished black and painted wares with globular and flattened
globular bodies, in many shapes—water bottles, shallow bowls,
beakers, ollas or jars and effigy forms
An excellent, dull-gray service ware with similar varieties of shapes
An excellent storage ware of medium to large size, chiefly globular in
form
Busycon, marginella, olivella shells from south Atlantic and Gulf
Coasts
Copper from Lake Superior region
Busycon dippers and drinking cups
L-shaped pipe (“equal armed” and and medium long-stemmed varieties)
Massive effigy stone pipes
Skeletons, in extended positions, (distributed) in single and multiple
graves throughout mounds and in cemeteries
Pottery Vessels, weapon heads, jewelry, and polished stone discoidals,
etc. associated with skeletons
Shell gorgets engraved with realistic and conventional designs
Repoussee copper eagle gorgets or plaques
Copper sheeted ornaments and jewelry of pottery, bone, shell, wood and
leather
Polished stone disks or “wheels”
Ground and squared astragalus bone of deer and elk
Intensive maize growing with other crops supplemented by hunting
Repeating weapon (bow and arrows)
Energy sources for labor and transportation still entirely human
The finer pottery and burials in mounds and cemeteries may reflect
class differences. The extension of the pottery shapes from
the fine black ware to the less decorative service ware may
indicate an improvement of lower class conditions over those
in Hopewellian times
Clothing much like Hopewellian in general styles
Large villages, small cities and small villages
Large centers or cities had temples and tribal officers’ cabins on
flat-topped mounds, and were protected by palisades and/or mud
walls
Dwellings semi- to permanent, with rectangular floors, vaulted or
gabled roofs of thatch, walls consisting of vertical posts,
wattle and daub construction, covered inside and out with
mats, sometimes possibly bark-covered. Cabin remains numerous.
Dug-out boats (?)
Wealth considerable. Trade in fewer materials than in Hopewellian
Two or three social classes present in population as in Hopewellian
Probably a political government with tribal and war chiefs and village
chiefs. Head tribal chief may have been chief priest also, or
a member of his family may have filled later office. War chief
probably also member of ruling caste (as among Natchez). Other
war chiefs probably of other classes, rank based on their past
deeds
Tribal and war chief. In some villages, village chief possibly had
dwellings on pyramid tops
Headdresses, probably with feathers, and regalia, including
feather-cloth robes were probably worn on tribal occasions of
importance
Calumet pipe doubtless served as safe conduct to travellers and
visiting officials, as seal and signature to important
agreements. Effigy stone pipes may have been Middle Phase
calumet pipe since it had to be smoked with a stem
War parties still of simple or no organization except leader and
followers, object to take prisoners but not territory
Religious ceremonial centers or cities existed to which outlying
smaller village populations journeyed for religious festivals
Priesthood with appropriate dress and regalia
Temples or sacred groves for worship
Religion with deities having special powers relating to maize-growing.
Veneration or worship of ancestors
Spring, first fruits, and harvest festivals
Tobacco smoke, tobacco pipes used in ceremonies as incense offerings
Athletic games form part of ceremonies
Shamans still exist but chiefly for healing, etc. as among
Hopewellians
High-ranking officials and priests buried in graves in mounds. Usual
preparation of body, burial, mourning periods, elaborated
proportionately to the rank of the deceased.
Art well developed
Games of chance were probably known and played