These relationships brought about changes in the style and manufacturing techniques of pottery along with the rise of an elaborate religion. One of the most important changes that resulted from this influence was the way people buried the dead. Middle Woodland people in Alabama began burying people in large, dome-shaped burial mounds. Often times, special items, such as weapons or pottery, were placed in the graves of some people. It is likely that these people were important religious or social leaders.
Archaeologists learn a lot about a past culture from their graves.
The way people buried others and what they buried with them and where they buried them tells us about their religion, social structure, and economy. This change in burial practices is one of the main characteristics of the Woodland time period. By the end of the Woodland times, mound centers became the cultural centers of societies where social, political, and religious events took place. However, the general population was scattered throughout the countryside in relatively small settlements. Changes are seen in the way people organized themselves.