The Timing of Precolumbian Militarization in the U.S. Midwest and Southeast

A new analysis of precolumbian fortifications in the U.S. Midwest and Southeast reveals that bastioned palisades, key to Mississippi period (A.D. 1000–1700) settlements, were predominantly constructed and maintained between A.D. 1200 and 1400. This suggests a significant shift toward institutionalized defense and warfare in Mississippian societies post-A.D. 1200, with fortifications often preserved for generations after their initial construction. The study employed Bayesian chronological modeling on radiocarbon datasets from nine major sites, including Cahokia Mounds, providing a robust framework to interpret the timing and longevity of these defensive structures.

Krus, A. M. (2016). The Timing of Precolumbian Militarization in the U.S. Midwest and Southeast. American Antiquity, 81(2), 375–388. https://doi.org/10.7183/0002-7316.81.2.375