Evidence unearthed by archeologists paints a picture of bustling population centers, with houses of thatch and mud plaster stretching out far and wide among cultivated fields. Traders from distant places arrived via the river, bringing not only basic items but coveted luxury goods, such as copper, mica, alligator teeth, and conch shells. While the moundbuilding people thrived, the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex became more intricate, and religion was increasingly the means of asserting authority. Mississippian towns usually had anywhere from one to twenty flat-topped temple mounds, which served as platforms for temples or other important structures, such as the houses of the elite. Though rich soil may have been plentiful in the Mississippi Valley, prehistoric people still competed for the best land, induced, perhaps, by their ever-increasing numbers.
War seems to have become a more frequent means of enforcing political control as time went on.
Villages were enclosed in wooden palisade walls, and the study of artifacts shows an increase in martial symbolism. Signs of violence on human remains underscore this development. By about 1450 A.D., the Mississippian moundbuilding cultures had declined dramatically. In the end, some hypothesize, they may have been too successful. As in modern times, large numbers of people competing for limited resources created tension, as did the highly stratified class structure.