1001 Space Earth Nature History First Civilisations Ancient Egypt Biblical Times Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Chinese, Japanese Civilisations Indian Civilisation African Civilisation The Early Americas The Rise of Islam The Middle Ages The Renaissance Civil War and Revolution The Industrial Revolution Two World Wars 20th-century Achievements Human World Science and Technology

Who were the burial-mound builders? From about 1000 BC, a group of Native Americans settled around the Mississippi River in North America. As well as gathering wild plants for food, they also grew crops on the fertile land, and their culture prospered. They built huge earthworks, some as enclosures and some for important ceremonies. From 800 AD, Mississippian settlements were larger than any built before. Temples and houses were built on top of the mounds, and important people were buried under the temple floors. The ordinary people of the Mississippian cities were buried in cemeteries. Pottery, shell, and copper ornaments were put in the graves.   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: History Chapter: The Early Americas