The culture of the Mississippi River affects geography, and in turn, geography affects culture along the Mississippi River. The geography of the Mississippi River provided early settlers with the natural resources to survive and thrive. At the same time, the aggressive expansion of the culture had a significant impact on the Mississippi River region. The history of settlement along the Mississippi River illustrates the fact that the river's geography provided a natural attraction for settlers. Archaeological evidence establishes that Native Americans occupied the land and developed civilizations along the Mississippi River as early as 10,000 BC. Records show that the river's inhabitants adapted and evolved using the geography of the Mississippi River. For example, archaic sites between the years 8,500 BC and 600 BC indicate that there were different types of settlements that served different functions. Professor Larkin explains that there were local camps that had a housing function and mining locations where archaeologists found evidence of hunting functions. Furthermore, James Crutchfield reports in his book It Happened on the Mississippi River, that prehistoric American Indians, in 700 BC, built a "metropolis along the eastern bank of the river," now known as Cahokia. The citizens of Cahokia resided in a “city of four thousand acres” and in this city there were over a hundred platforms and burial mounds ranging from small mounds to mounds reaching thirty feet in height. The inhabitants made a living off the river by “farming the rich bottomlands…fishing in the local streams and hunting in the surrounding forests.” The rich seabed, streams and forests are just some of the many resources that attracted... half the paper... of the region it once occupied. As a result, the original settlement site is now no longer in Louisiana, but across the river in the State of Mississippi.” Furthermore, the natural geographical phenomena of the rivers, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, have influenced its culture. For example, the New Madrid earthquake in 1811 raised or lowered part of the river eight feet. Furthermore, it reversed the flow of the river. Professor Barbara Headle explains that “the Mississippi River is not just a placid landscape. Actively participates in what happens to residents along its shore. “The history of the Mississippi River is a remarkable example of the relationship between culture and geography. Prehistoric settlements and riverside development have demonstrated that while culture influences geography, geography in turn influences culture.