The Mann Phase

A comprehensive overview of an important archaeological site from the Middle Woodland Period that represents a unique cultural phenomenon

The Mann site, located in southwestern Indiana, is one of the most consequential but enigmatic archaeological sites of the Middle Woodland period. Dating to 200‒600 CE, the site has long been known to archaeologists, but little research on it has been published. This book is the first to provide a comprehensive overview of this and other related sites that together constitute a distinct cultural phase.

Spanning over six hundred acres, the Mann site features diverse earthworks, including geometric shapes, platform mounds, and burial mounds. In this book, Michael Strezewski draws on a decade of research in the area to reveal that the Mann phase blended traits from Hopewell culture in both Ohio and the Southeast, a unique phenomenon not seen elsewhere. Artifacts made from exotic materials suggest extensive connections across North America. Evidence shows a large population lived near the mounds, unusual for Hopewell communities. Geophysical surveys indicate the presence of thousands of subsurface features related to the village, and various ceremonial elements offer insights into Hopewell rituals.

This book demonstrates that the people of the Mann phase, while part of the Hopewell world, continuously created and redefined their cultural identity. Strezewski presents a wealth of evidence that the Mann site is highly significant, perhaps the largest habitation site of its time. The new findings in this volume will impact interpretations of Hopewell culture in the Midwest for years to come.