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Mississippian Period Population Density in a Segment of the Central Mississippi River Valley

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

George R. Milner
George R. Milner*
Affiliation:
Museum of Anthropology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
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Abstract

Recent archaeological investigations of Mississippian period (A.D. 1000–1400) sites permit the development of population estimates for an area immediately south of Cahokia, the largest prehistoric site in North America. Population estimates are derived from the number of structures at 11 sites, with the amount of prehistorically habitable land being incorporated as part of the estimating procedure. Population density increased somewhat during the earliest two of four Mississippian phases, reaching its peak during the Stirling phase. Thereafter, population decreased, reaching its lowest point during the Sand Prairie phase.

Type
Research Article
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 51 , Issue 2 , April 1986 , pp. 227 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1986

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References

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