Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley

The user's query asks for a summary of "Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley - work by Squier." The provided search results discuss E. G. Squier and his archaeological work, including his collaboration with Edwin H. Davis on Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley. The search results also mention the Mississippian culture, which is relevant to the topic of ancient monuments in the Mississippi Valley.

E. G. Squier, along with Edwin H. Davis, conducted a significant early study of the pre-Columbian North American Mound Builders. Their findings were published in the illustrated work Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley (1848), which was the first publication of the Smithsonian Institution. This book is recognized as a foundational work in American archaeology and served as a model for future research.1

Squier and Davis explored numerous mounds and earthwork enclosures, collecting a large number of artifacts. Their work focused on understanding the civilization responsible for these structures. Squier also undertook explorations in Central America, Peru, and Bolivia, seeking to uncover the origins of the Mound Builder civilization. The Mississippian culture, which flourished around 800 CE, is characterized by intensive agricultural techniques and large settlements with earth mounds, typical of Middle American patterns.12