Which lands and ecosystems were part of the Indigenous culture area of the American Southeast?

The Indigenous culture area of the American Southeast encompasses a diverse range of lands and ecosystems, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to west of the Mississippi River valley, and from the southern edge of the Northeast culture area to the Gulf of Mexico.12

The region is defined by several distinct physiographic and ecological zones:

• Coastal Lowlands and Plains: This area includes the subtropical zone of southern Florida, as well as the scrub forests, sandy soils, and savanna grasslands of the coastal plains.12
• Alluvial Floodplains: The fertile lands surrounding the Mississippi River provided essential environments for settlement.1
• Piedmont: A region of rolling hills and major river systems, this area was characterized by forests of oak and hickory and was the most densely populated part of the Southeast.12
• Appalachian Mountains: The region includes portions of the Appalachian Mountains in eastern Tennessee, northern Georgia, and the western Carolinas, featuring high peaks, deep valleys, and hardwood forests.12

Predominant ecosystems across these zones included coastal scrub, wetlands, and deciduous forests.2