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The Mississippian Culture is recognized as the last of the mound-building cultures in North America, flourishing from approximately 800 CE to 1600 CE. This culture is characterized by the construction of large earthen mounds, ceremonial centers, and sophisticated societies that engaged in agriculture and trade. The Mississippian people built impressive mound complexes, including Cahokia, which served as important political and religious centers.

In contrast, the Anasazi Culture, primarily found in the Southwest, is known for their cliff dwellings and adobe structures rather than mound-building. The Hopewell People, flourishing earlier, are noted for their burial mounds and earthworks, but they predated the Mississippian Culture. The Olmec civilization, based in Mesoamerica, is celebrated for their colossal head sculptures and early developments in writing and calendar systems, but it does not fall within the North American mound-building tradition. This context underscores the significance of the Mississippian Culture as the final expression of mound-building in North America, showcasing its unique developments in urbanism, social structure, and cultural practices.