ABSTRACT
North America remained a mosaic of chiefdoms-some, such as Cahokia, wielding considerable power-until European colonization. Prestate chiefdoms were kin-based structures in which a hereditary chief ruled over a hierarchically ranked society. The chief, with the aid of kin-related nobles, organized his chiefdom and oversaw the acquisition, production, and redistribution of goods, food, and resources. At times there were numerous autonomous chiefdoms across the landscape; some became powerful
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and were able to exact resources and goods from others. However, even complex chiefdoms lacked the bureaucratic machine and standing army needed to control distant areas (Scarre and Fagan 2003).
