This book should prove useful to scholars in a variety of ways, for it deals with culture-historical, methodological, and evolutionary issues from shedding light on Moundville's development. In addressing matters of culture history, the study presents a detailed and well documented Mississippian chronology. It systemises and describes the late prehistoric ceramics from an important site, providing a benchmark that can be used in future studies of trade and stylistic interaction. And, perhaps even more importantly, it synthesizes the available information on Moundville's development, taking into account settlement, subsistence, and mortuary evidence.