Late Woodland

During the Late Woodland period, populations appear to have increased, replacing the small, scattered communities of the Middle Woodland with larger villages. The people continued to grow their crops of squash, goosefoot, and may grass, although around AD 800, some communities began to grow a little corn as well. They also developed a new hunting weapon, the bow and arrow, which gradually supplanted their spears.

For reasons which archaeologists are still investigating, the Late Woodland descendants of the Hopewell people ceased building large burial mounds and earthworks, and abandoned their extensive trade networks.