Final answer:
The thriving societies of Pennsylvanian Native American groups, such as the Hopewell culture, were characterized by their construction of wigwams and the practice of agriculture, which are key cultural and technological innovations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which cultural or technological innovations contributed to the thriving societies of Pennsylvanian Native American groups? The answer is d) Wigwams and agriculture practices. The Indigenous groups in the region, such as those from the Hopewell culture, were known for living in settlements with wattle-and-daub houses and practicing agriculture, which was supplemented by hunting and fishing. This agricultural practice included the cultivation of crops like maize, a significant factor in the cultural shift seen in the Mississippian tradition. Additionally, the Northeastern Indigenous groups, known for their wigwam dwellings, relied heavily on both hunting/gathering and farming for their economic sustenance.
These societies also partook in a system of exchange featuring shells, and post-1600s, they manufactured highly valued wampum belts from white and purple shell beads. These belts were used not only as a medium of exchange but also served to record important events and formalize agreements. The Northeastern Indigenous groups' adaptation to their environment is exemplified by their creation of earthen mounds, a key transformation of the environment by the Hopewell tradition people to suit their needs.