Home Region:  Mississippi Basin (North America)

Cahokia - Sand Prairie

1275 CE 1400 CE
EQ 2020  us_cahokia_3 / USMisSd
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
1200 CE 1275 CE Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
1400 CE 1650 CE Oneota (us_oneota)    [population replacement]


  General Description  
The Sand Prairie phase is the name given by archaeologists to the period between around 1275 and 1400 CE in the American Bottom region, the portion of the floodplain of the Mississippi now located in southwestern Illinois. [1] [2] This period is considered the final phase of the Mississippian culture. [3] The chronology is not universally agreed upon, however: the dates given by different scholars for the Sand Prairie phase vary. [2]
Population and political organization
The Sand Prairie phase was one of decreasing social complexity and depopulation at the site of Cahokia and on the surrounding Middle Mississippi floodplain. [4] Already by 1150 CE, archaeological evidence indicates that the political and ceremonial ties binding the site of Cahokia and its elite to its hinterland were weakening, and by 1350, there are very few signs of culturally Mississippian populations left in the American Bottom. [5] During the Sand Prairie phase, Mississippians seem to have abandoned the old monumental sites and dispersed out of the river valley into the uplands. [6] The evidence for political hierarchies and inherited status distinctions is much weaker than for previous periods, and community activity may have revolved around funerary rites at rural cemeteries. [7]
The population of the site of Cahokia and the surrounding Mississippi floodplain reached its lowest point for several centuries during this period. [8] [9] Concrete population estimates are difficult to find, but archaeologist George Milner has estimated a Sand Prairie-period population density of between one and seven people per square kilometre for a stretch of the Mississippi floodplain just south of Cahokia. [8]

[1]: (Kelly et al. 1984, 130) Kelly, John E., Steven J. Ozuk, Douglas K. Jackson, Dale L. McElrath, Fred A. Finney, and Duane Esarey. 1984. "Emergent Mississippian Period." In American Bottom Archaeology: A Summary of the FAI-270 Project Contribution to the Culture History of the Mississippi River Valley, edited by Charles L. Bareis and James W. Porter, 128-57. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/2UP556X5.

[2]: (Hall 2000, 13) Hall, Robert L. 2000. "Cahokia Identity and Interaction Models of Cahokia Mississippian." In Cahokia and the Hinterlands: Middle Mississippian Cultures of the Midwest, edited by Thomas E. Emerson and R. Barry Lewis, 3-34. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/WNR98AWH.

[3]: (Milner 1986, 234) Milner, George R. 1986. "Mississippian Period Population Density in a Segment of the Central Mississippi River Valley." American Antiquity 51 (2): 227-38. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/P35FE59S.

[4]: (Emerson 1997, 6, 53) Emerson, Thomas E. 1997. Cahokia and the Archaeology of Power. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/QH7AMQ74.

[5]: (Pauketat and Bernard 2004, 38-39) Pauketat, Timothy, and Nancy Stone Bernard. 2004. Cahokia Mounds. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/MH4W8AV5.

[6]: (Emerson 1997, 53) Emerson, Thomas E. 1997. Cahokia and the Archaeology of Power. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/QH7AMQ74.

[7]: (Emerson 1997, 180) Emerson, Thomas E. 1997. Cahokia and the Archaeology of Power. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/QH7AMQ74.

[8]: (Milner 1986, 227) Milner, George R. 1986. "Mississippian Period Population Density in a Segment of the Central Mississippi River Valley." American Antiquity 51 (2): 227-38. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/P35FE59S.

[9]: (Pauketat and Lopinot 1997, 120) Pauketat, Timothy R., and Neal H. Lopinot. 1997. "Cahokian Population Dynamics." In Cahokia: Domination and Ideology in the Mississippian World, edited by Timothy R. Pauketat and Thomas E. Emerson, 103-23. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.
Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3) was in:
 (1275 CE 1399 CE) Cahokia
Home NGA: Cahokia

General Variables
Identity and Location Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 15 S Expert 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Original Name Cahokia - Sand Prairie Expert 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Alternative Name City Mounds Expert 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Alternative Name American Bottom Expert 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Alternative Name Sand Prairie Phase Expert 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Alternative Name Cahokia Mounds Expert 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Temporal Bounds Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none Expert 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Supracultural Entity Middle Mississippian Expert 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Succeeding Entity Oneota Expert 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Expert 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Preceding Entity
1200 CE 1275 CE
Cahokia - Moorehead (us_cahokia_2)   [continuity]  Expert
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Succeeding Entity
1400 CE 1650 CE
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Degree of Centralization 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Language Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
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Linguistic Family NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI Expert 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Language 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Religion Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Polity Territory 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Polity Population 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Religious Level 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Military Level 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Administrative Level 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Professions Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
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Professional Soldier 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Professional Priesthood 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Professional Military Officer 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Occupational Complexity 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Law Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
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Professional Lawyer Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Judge Unknown 1275 CE  1400 CE
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1275 CE  1400 CE
Court Unknown 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
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Market 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Irrigation System 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Food Storage Site 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Port 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Canal Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Bridge 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
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Mines or Quarry 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Information / Writing System Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Script 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
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Scientific Literature Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Sacred Text Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Religious Literature Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Practical Literature Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Philosophy Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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History Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Fiction 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Calendar Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Information / Money Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Precious Metal Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Paper Currency Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Indigenous Coin Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Foreign Coin Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Article 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Information / Postal System Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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General Postal Service Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Information / Measurement System Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Moat Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Fortified Camp Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Earth Rampart Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Ditch Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Complex Fortification Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Long Wall absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Military use of Metals Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Iron Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Bronze Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Projectiles Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Sling 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Self Bow 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Javelin 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Crossbow Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Composite Bow 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Atlatl Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Handheld weapons Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Sword 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Spear 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Polearm 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Dagger 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Battle Axe 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Animals used in warfare Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Elephant Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Donkey Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Camel Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Armor Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Shield Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Scaled Armor Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Plate Armor Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Limb Protection 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Leather Cloth 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Laminar Armor Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Helmet 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Chainmail Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Breastplate 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Naval technology Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 1275 CE  1400 CE
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Human Sacrifice Cahokia - Sand Prairie (us_cahokia_3)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions