Mound Builders - Hopewell That Ends Well
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Adenas - Adenas mounds are found in the region of Adena, Ohio. The Adenas built cone shaped mounds for the dead. They also built animal shaped mounds that might trade goods covered by the mound builders had a religious meaning.
The Adena people did some farming, but were hunters and gatherers. Their land was rich with fish, game, nuts, and berries. The Mississippithe Missouriand the Illinois. It was an excellent location for trading. The people of Cahokia built mounds that look like flat topped pyramids. One mound was as tall as a ten story building. Its base was wider than any Egyptian pyramid. The people of Cahokia built temples, public buildings and statues on top of the mounds.
About 25, people lived within trade goods covered by the mound builders city. Another 25, people lived on the outskirts of the city in villages. The ruler of the city was very powerful and he was called the "Great Sun. They slowly made mounds with the dirt. The mounds were already built by the 15th Century, when the Spanish explorers arrived.
Some mounds were used as graves. Other mounds were used as platforms for temples and palaces. Some mounds were religious symbols. Mississippians - The Mississippian era began about 1, years ago. At first, they imported corn from Mexico. Then they became corn farmers. Being successful corn farmers allowed their cities to grow trade goods covered by the mound builders large.
The Mississippians had well organized governments. Their rulers were treated as gods. Temples and the homes of the Mississippian leaders sat on top of tall earth mounds.
Its name means "Big River. The Mississippi River has two huge branches. One branch is the Missouri Riverand it flows from the west. The other branch is the Ohio River and it flows from the east. Mound Builders - The Mound Building period lasted for about trade goods covered by the mound builders. It is divided into three periods, the Adenasthe Hopewellsand the Mississippians.
It is shaped like a huge curving snake. It is more than 2, years old and is over 1, feet long. The mouth of the snake is open and is swallowing something. Some people think the serpent is swallowing an egg. Trade - The Mound Builders were great traders. They traded from coast to coast and from north to south. They used a kind of relay system to get goods to and from distant places.
The Adena people lived in the Ohio River valley from B. The Trade goods covered by the mound builders were the first of three civilizations known as the Mound Builders. The Mound Builders lived in the eastern half of the United States.
The Mound Builders built earth mounds called earthworks. One of the most famous Adena earthwork is Serpent Mound. It is 5 feet high, 20 feet across, and feet long. It is formed in the shape of a snake. The Adena built small burial mounds. The burial ceremony prepared the body's spirit for the afterlife.
First they covered the body with red paint. Red represented the color of blood and life. The Adena believed the red paint allow the person's spirit to live after death. Then they laid the painted body on a bed of bark strips on the floor of a burial house. To help the dead enjoy life after death, the Adena placed jewelryclay pipesbeadsand other useful objects around the body.
Finally, they set the burial house trade goods covered by the mound builders fire and cremated the body. After the house burned down, the Adena covered the ashes with earth. Over time, more people were buried on the same mound. The burial mound grew higher over the years.
The Hopewells were the second of the three Mound Building civilizations. They were the strongest civilization for years and grew in the middle of the United States. The Hopewells were skilled at arts and crafts. They wove matsmade ceramic potsand carved figures from bone, wood, and metal. The Hopewells made spear points and knives from obsidian. Hopewell clothing was made from animal skins.
They wore jewelry made from copper and shells. Like the Olmecs, the Hopewell culture spread through trade. The third and greatest mound building civilization was the Mississippian. They built huge moundssome as big as football fields.
The largest Mississippian city was Cahokia. Cahokia was located near East St. Monk's Mound was where the Cahokia chief lived. It was feet high and covered 16 acres. It took The Mississippians more than years to build. Workers carried the soil to the mound, one basketful at a time. The Mississippian Culture ended about years ago. Hopewells - The Hopewell lived in villages along the rivers. They traded with each other and with people from across the continent. Like the Adenas, the Hopewells grew some crops.
The Hopewells left beautiful artifacts in their mounds.
