moundville was one of the greatest ceremonial centers of the mississippian culture.
moundville was one of the greatest ceremonial centers of which culture?
the mississippian culture
the agrarian mississippian culture covered most of the state from 1000 to 1600 ad, with one of its major centers built at what is now the moundville archaeological site in moundville, alabama. this is the second-largest complex of the classic middle mississippian era, after cahokia in present-day illinois, which was the center of the culture. analysis of artifacts from archaeological excavations at moundville were the basis of scholars' formulating the characteristics of the southeastern ceremonial complex (secc). contrary to popular belief, the secc appears to have no direct links to mesoamerican culture, but developed independently. the ceremonial complex represents a major component of the religion of the mississippian peoples; it is one of the primary means by which their religion is understood.
alabama
ceremonial centers were always built to be visible. pyramids were meant to stand out from the rest of the city, to represent the gods and their powers. another characteristic feature of the ceremonial centers is historic layers. all the ceremonial edifices were built in various phases, one on top of the other, to the point that what we now see is usually the last stage of construction. ultimately, the ceremonial centers were the architectural translation of the identity of each city, as represented by the veneration of their gods and masters. stelae were common public monuments throughout mesoamerica, and served to commemorate notable successes, events and dates associated with the rulers and nobility of the various sites.
mesoamerica