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Mississippian
Mississippian culture contrasted greatly with the local cultures in southwestern
Virginia.
(The term "Mississippian" is used because some
of the first sites of the culture were found along the Mississippi
River.)
A regional phenomenon, the Mississippian culture became
widespread throughout the Midwest and southern United States.
In Virginia, this culture made its way into the extreme
southwestern corner of the state.
The
villages of the Mississippian culture were much larger, more complex,
and more permanent than that of most Late Woodland cultures.
The more settled and abundant life of the Mississippian
culture led to fully developed chiefdoms ruled by chiefs and subchiefs.
In a chiefdom, a few highly ranked people at major centers
directed the economic, socio-political, and religious activities
of thousands of people living in a large region.
The position of chief became a permanent office and social
inequality became a basic rule.
Here
in Virginia, the best preserved Mississippian site is Ely Mound
in Lee County.
A townhouse sat on the tall, distinct, flattop mound that
overlooked the village and the plaza where the game of chunkey
was played. The townhouse was like a combination church and town
hall, and was the major focal point of village activities.
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Elaborately
incised ceramic vessel
The
people loved games of competition, such as chunkey. In this
game contestants threw spears after rolling stones and chased
them in contests against the best players of other villages.
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