Native People of the American Southeast

HOW THEY GOT HERE

People have been living in the southeastern region of North America for at least 18,000 years. At first these groups were on the move, hunting wild game and gathering food. Then around A.D. 800, people started planting corn near theMississippiRiver and settled there permanently. Their peaceful culture thrived for hundreds of years in this plentiful area.

COOL CULTURE

Southeastern people used river mud to build massive earthen mounds that formed the center of their communities. The tall mounds served as gathering places for ceremonies, platforms for temples, and homes for tribal leaders. Moundvillethe ruins of an ancient city in whats now centralAlabamahas 26 mounds; the tallest is almost 60 feet high. (Thats like fourgiraffesstacked on top of each other!) About a thousand people lived in this city, while another 10,000 farmed corn nearby.