Home Region:  Mississippi Basin (North America)

Cahokia - Late Woodland III

600 CE 750 CE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  us_woodland_5 / USMisPa
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
450 CE 600 CE Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.


  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]

700 CE
800 CE
Intensification of Maize farming begins. Higher yields from maize cultivation enables more food to be extracted from a smaller territory. [2]
"Although there is scattered evidence for corn, or maize, during Middle Woodland times, it wasn’t until Late Woodland times, after AD 700-800, that it became an important food crop." [4]
Social complexity increases from this period. "Site plans gained greater internal complexity as houses clustered into court-yard groups and, toward [1000 CE], the southern pattern of civic-ceremonial centers with large earthen mounds was established in many places. Nucleated settlements may have been a defensive response to bow warfare. Burials with embedded arrow points and sites fortified with palisades and ditches are widespread, although no present everywhere... New social roles linked to community defense, organization of labor, and communal storage of maize in secure central places laid the foundation for the increased group differentiation, competition, and hierarchy of the Mississippian period beginning A.D. 1000." [2]
Palisades and ditches appear in the archaeological record. The first evidence of substantial intergroup warfare. [2]

"trail networks also are important, and some of the historic east-west ones cross near Cahokia." [5]
Cahokia "controlled a critical choke point in trade routes that spanned the midcontinent" an idea that goes back to Brackenridge (1813 CE). [6]
"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." [7]
"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." [7]

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

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

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

[4]: (Iseminger 2010, 26)

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

[6]: (Milner 2006, 12)

[7]: (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 III (us_woodland_5) was in:
 (600 CE 749 CE)   Cahokia
Home NGA: Cahokia
General Variables
Identity and Location Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 15 S Confident Expert 600 CE  750 CE
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Original Name Cahokia - Late Woodland III Confident Expert 600 CE  750 CE
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Alternative Name American Bottom Confident Expert 600 CE  750 CE
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Alternative Name Late Woodland Confident Expert 600 CE  750 CE
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Alternative Name Patrick Phase Confident Expert 600 CE  750 CE
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Temporal Bounds Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years 750 CE Confident Expert
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Duration [600 CE ➜ 750 CE] Confident Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none Confident Expert 600 CE  750 CE
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Supracultural Entity Late Woodland Confident Expert 600 CE  750 CE
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Succeeding Entity Cahokia - Emergent Mississippian I Confident Expert 600 CE  750 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident Expert 600 CE  750 CE
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Preceding Entity
450 CE 600 CE
Cahokia - Late Woodland II (us_woodland_4)   [continuity]  Confident Expert
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Succeeding Entity
750 CE 900 CE
Cahokia - Emergent Mississippian I (us_emergent_mississippian_1)   [continuity]  Confident Expert
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Degree of Centralization none Confident Expert 600 CE  750 CE
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Language Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [30 to 50] people Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Polity Population - Suspected 600 CE  750 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [1 to 2] Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Religious Level - Suspected 600 CE  750 CE
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Military Level - Suspected 600 CE  750 CE
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Administrative Level [1 to 2] Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Professions Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Professional Priesthood Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Professional Military Officer Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Occupational Complexity Uncoded Undecided 600 CE  750 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Merit Promotion Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Examination System Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Law Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Judge Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
Court Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Irrigation System Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Food Storage Site Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Port Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Canal Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Bridge Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
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Mines or Quarry Present Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Information / Writing System Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Script Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Sacred Text Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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History Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Fiction Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Calendar Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Information / Money Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Paper Currency Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Foreign Coin Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Article Present Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Information / Postal System Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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General Postal Service Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Courier Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Information / Measurement System Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Moat Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Fortified Camp Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Earth Rampart Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Ditch Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Complex Fortification Unknown Suspected 600 CE  750 CE
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Long Wall absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Military use of Metals Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Iron Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Bronze Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Projectiles Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Sling Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Self Bow Present Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Javelin Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Crossbow Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Composite Bow Unknown Suspected 600 CE  750 CE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Handheld weapons Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Sword Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Spear Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Polearm Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Dagger Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Battle Axe Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Animals used in warfare Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Elephant Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Donkey Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Dog Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Camel Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Armor Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Shield Unknown Suspected 600 CE  750 CE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Limb Protection Unknown Suspected 600 CE  750 CE
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Leather Cloth Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Helmet Unknown Suspected 600 CE  750 CE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Breastplate Unknown Suspected 600 CE  750 CE
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Naval technology Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Confident 600 CE  750 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Inferred 600 CE  750 CE
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Human Sacrifice Cahokia - Late Woodland III (us_woodland_5)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
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