First Peoples
13,000 BC–AD 1518

When the last Ice Age ended more than 15,000 years ago, Mississippi looked much different from today. People migrating to this land walked across the mighty Mississippi River, but then it was just a shallow, braided stream. Native Americans adopted a hunter-gatherer lifestyle—gathering wild plants, fishing, and hunting. Soon these original inhabitants turned to agriculture, cultivating Mississippi’s rich soil and creating permanent homes here.  
             
From stunning stone tools and pottery to the sophisticated earthworks of Winterville and Emerald mounds, the material culture and monumental architecture of Native Americans deepen our understanding of the complex, skilled, and innovative peoples who flourished across the Southeast. 


From the Gallery

Explore artifacts, photos, and documents featured in the First Peoples gallery. 


TIMELINE: 13,000 BC–AD 1518

Explore Mississippi

Journey beyond the museum walls and explore the places where history happened and is preserved.

Winterville Mounds and Museum

Winterville Mounds and MuseumThis 42-acre site near Greenville, Mississippi, features 12 prehistoric Native American mounds, two large plazas, and a museum.

2415 Highway 1 North
Greenville, Mississippi

Visit Website

Emerald Mound

Emerald MoundOne of the largest Native American mounds in America, this archaeological site is located on the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Stanton, Mississippi
Exit parkway at Rte. 553 intersection; follow signs to mound—about 1 mile.

Visit website