Final answer:
The Archaic Culture was the longest-lasting North American Paleo-Indian culture. It followed the Paleo-Indian period and preceded the development of more complex societies, signaling the transition towards agricultural practices and settled life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The North American Paleo-Indian culture that lasted the longest is the Archaic Culture. The Clovis culture, which existed around thirteen thousand years ago, spread across North America but vanished after only a few centuries. After the Paleo-Indian period, which ended around 8,000 BCE due to changes in global climate and the extinction of megafauna, a variety of cultural traditions flourished during what is known as the Archaic period, between 9000 and 2000 BCE. These traditions adapted to diverse geographical settings across the continent.
The Archaic period is characterized by significant developments such as plant domestication and the beginnings of organized agricultural activities. Unlike the earlier Clovis and Folsom cultures, which were primarily mobile hunter-gatherers, groups during the Archaic period took the first steps towards settled life and agriculture, which eventually led to the development of complex towns and cities, exemplified by the Mississippian Cahokia settlement.