Scientists rely heavily upon which kind of evidence to learn about early American Indians like the Mississippians?

A. written records
B. stone monuments
C. religious epics
D. artifacts

D. artifacts

Scientists rely heavily upon D. artifacts to learn about early American Indians like the Mississippians.

Artifacts, such as pottery, tools, weapons, and other objects left behind by a civilization, can provide valuable insights into the daily life, culture, technology, and beliefs of the people who created them. By studying these artifacts, scientists can gather information about the way they lived, traded, practiced agriculture, built structures, and interacted with the environment.

To learn about early American Indians like the Mississippians, scientists rely heavily on artifacts. These artifacts provide important physical evidence, such as tools, pottery, jewelry, and other objects left behind by early populations. By studying and analyzing these artifacts, scientists can gain valuable insights into the lifestyle, technology, trade networks, and cultural practices of the Mississippians. Additionally, archaeological sites and excavations can reveal important information about settlement patterns, architecture, and the organization of Mississippian society. While written records, stone monuments, and religious epics can be informative for studying other cultures or civilizations, they are not as commonly available or applicable in the case of early American Indian societies like the Mississippians.