Archaeological research suggest that these ancestral people did not live within the complex itself, but scattered in small communities throughout the vicinity. Archaeologists determined that the Hopewell Indians lived in hamlets or small villages, typically with a few rectangular homes constructed with wooden posts and thatched roofs. They raised crops including squash, sunflower, beans, and other plants with starchy and oily seeds. They also collected nuts, seeds, roots, and fruits from wild plants for food, medicine, and crafts. They also fished and hunted for deer and other small and larger game.
