Home Region:  Mississippi Basin (North America)

Cahokia - Late Woodland II

450 CE 600 CE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  us_woodland_4 / USMisMu
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
300 CE 450 CE Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
600 CE 750 CE Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)    [continuity]


  General Description   2000 BCE

Period of population growth begins [1]

1 CE
c1 CE "large quantities of native cultigens began to be incorporated into midcontinental diets. [1]

100 CE
Maize appears in the archaeological record [2]
Atlatl is the contemporary weapon [2]
"periodic rituals at ceremonial mound centers" [2]
"groups ensured access to needed resources through maintenance of alliance-exchange relationships" [2]

200 CE
300 CE
Early arrowheads appear. "Beginning A.D. 300-400, the bow replaced the atlatl in most regions" [2]
In the Mississippian region (Midwest and Upland South) the transition from atlatl to bow was "relatively rapid because dart points disappear from the archaeological record" [2]
Introduction of the bow in the Mississippi region decreased social complexity because it caused the collapse of the Hopewell system, the abandonment of mound centers and alliance-exchange relationships [2]
Bow enabled a new bow and native crops subsistence strategy which lead to a movement to and the effective exploitation of previously marginal lands and "household autonomy" [2]
There followed an economic intensification and population growth which eventually "packed the landscape with settlements." [2]

400 CE
500 CE
600 CE
Late arrowheads appear. "This transition to small, thin, triangular or triangular corner-notched points has long been accepted as evidence of the bow, but variation in the morphology of late arrow point types suggest that this transition was governed by social and historical factors that varied across these regions." [2]
Late arrowheads may indicate the technological development of fletching as they are less heavy and thick than the early arrowheads. [2]
First evidence of intergroup violence appears in the archaeological record (arrowpoints embedded in skeletons in individual and group burials). [2]
No evidence for an increase in social complexity and hierarchy or deviation from the "trend toward household autonomy" at this time. [2]
"For the first time, there is evidence, in the form of group and individual burials with embedded arrow points, of the bow as the primary weapon of intergroup violence." [2]
"In Middle Woodland times there isn’t much evidence for warfare." "Later, after about A.D. 600 there is more evidence (scalping, embedded arrow points)." [3]
"Population growth, reduced access to resources, sedentism, and the desire to avoid conflict made the high costs of intensified food production more attractive." [2]

"trail networks also are important, and some of the historic east-west ones cross near Cahokia." [4]
Cahokia "controlled a critical choke point in trade routes that spanned the midcontinent" an idea that goes back to Brackenridge (1813 CE). [5]
"The greatest environmental hazard would have been a late summer Mississippi River flood similar to the one that took place in 1993. A rise in the river at that time of the year simultaneously drowned crops, prevented easy fishing in shallow ponds, and ruined food stored in underground pits. Floods attributable to severe storms, including excessive water funnelled into the floodplain by creeks that drain the uplands, certainly caused localized disasters much like they did a century ago before effective flood-control measures were put in place." [6]
"No other major site was as advantageously situated. Cahokia was located in what was by far the widest expanse of land suitable for settlement in the American Bottom. More people could live there than anywhere else ... The high ground where Cahokia was located was bordered on the north and south by large tracts of low-lying land that received the waters of different upland streams." [6]

[1]: (Milner, Chaplin and Zavodny 2013)

[2]: (Blitz and Porth 2013, 89-95)

[3]: (Peregrine/Pauketat 2014, 16)

[4]: (Peregrine/Trubitt 2014, 21)

[5]: (Milner 2006, 12)

[6]: (Milner 2006, 168)

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4) was in:
 (450 CE 599 CE)   Cahokia
Home NGA: Cahokia
General Variables
Identity and Location Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 15 S Confident Expert 450 CE  600 CE
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Original Name Cahokia - Late Woodland II Confident Expert 450 CE  600 CE
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Alternative Name American Bottom Confident Expert 450 CE  600 CE
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Alternative Name Late Woodland Confident Expert 450 CE  600 CE
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Alternative Name Mund Phase Confident Expert 450 CE  600 CE
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Temporal Bounds Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years 600 CE Confident Expert
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Duration [450 CE ➜ 600 CE] Confident Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none Confident Expert 450 CE  600 CE
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Supracultural Entity Middle Woodland Confident Expert 450 CE  600 CE
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Succeeding Entity Cahokia - Late Woodland III Confident Expert 450 CE  600 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident Expert 450 CE  600 CE
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Succeeding Entity
600 CE 750 CE
Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)   [continuity]  Confident Expert
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Preceding Entity
300 CE 450 CE
Cahokia - Late Woodland I (us_woodland_3)   [continuity]  Confident Expert
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Degree of Centralization none Confident Expert 450 CE  600 CE
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Language Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI Confident Expert 450 CE  600 CE
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Religion Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [30 to 50] people Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Polity Population - Suspected 450 CE  600 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 1 Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Religious Level - Suspected 450 CE  600 CE
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Military Level - Suspected 450 CE  600 CE
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Administrative Level [1 to 2] Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Professions Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Professional Priesthood Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Professional Military Officer Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Occupational Complexity Uncoded Undecided 450 CE  600 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Merit Promotion Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Examination System Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Law Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Judge Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
Court Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Irrigation System Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Food Storage Site Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Port Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Canal Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Bridge Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Information / Writing System Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Script Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Sacred Text Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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History Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Fiction Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Calendar Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Information / Money Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Paper Currency Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Foreign Coin Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Article Present Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Information / Postal System Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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General Postal Service Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Courier Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Information / Measurement System Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Moat Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Fortified Camp Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Earth Rampart Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Ditch Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Complex Fortification Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Long Wall absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Military use of Metals Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Iron Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Bronze Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Projectiles Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Sling Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Self Bow Present Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Javelin Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Crossbow Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Composite Bow Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Handheld weapons Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Sword Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Spear Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Polearm Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Dagger Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Battle Axe Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Animals used in warfare Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Elephant Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Donkey Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Dog Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Camel Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Armor Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Shield Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Limb Protection Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Leather Cloth Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Helmet Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Breastplate Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Naval technology Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Confident 450 CE  600 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Inferred 450 CE  600 CE
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Human Sacrifice Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
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