Final answer:
Chiefdoms can have two settlement systems: small chiefdoms and large chiefdoms. Small chiefdoms are built around one or a few earthen mounds, while large chiefdoms consist of multiple settlements grouped together under a central chief.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chiefdoms are a form of political organization characterized by regional leadership through chiefs. There are two settlement systems commonly associated with chiefdoms: small chiefdoms and large chiefdoms.
Small Chiefdoms:
Small chiefdoms are built around one or a few earthen mounds and typically have a population of a few thousand people. These settlements can communicate and trade with each other, maintaining large trading networks. Examples include settlements in the Mississippi River valley and as far away as Georgia and Florida.
Large Chiefdoms:
Large chiefdoms consist of smaller settlements grouped together under a central chief. These settlements can have populations in the thousands, and they often have common cultural, architectural, and technological practices. An example of large chiefdoms is the Polynesian Pacific, where chiefdoms developed in places like Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, and Tonga.