This prehistoric period lasted from about

a.

d. 800-1600 and was characterized by complex agricultural societies that were settled in small villages.

Mississippian is the prehisstoric period that lasted from 800-1600 A. D. It was characaterized by complex agricultural societies that were settled in small villages. The native societies of thiss time period were the ones this time period were the ones that were encountered by Hernando de Soto and his expedition in the 1540s.