As humans formed social groups, populations grew and new social dynamics appeared. People gathered in bands and tribes with the chance of eventually forming chiefdoms or even archaic states. As people were assigned jobs and found skills, what people did on a daily basis and how their abilities aided their communities shaped how they were treated. We refer to this as status, or recognized privileges to which there is a named social position (Kelly and Thomas 2014: 178). Typically there are two ways status is assigned: ascription and achievement. Archaeologist look at mortuary remains to determine how status was earned and to potentially see how status played a role in shaping a civilization. Ascribed status is assigned at birth as the obligations and privileges a person has through parentage. When a person is born into power, they are given certain rights and abilities. These rights will be passed to their children and other relatives. In chiefdoms, ascribed status often involves relation to the chief who is said to be related to a common ancestor seen as an important figure in history or even a deity. Archaeologists have different ways of observing ascribed status in mortuary remains. For example, archaeologists Christopher Peebles and Susan Kus analyzed burials in Moundville. Copper axes, copper gorgets, stone disks, paints, exotic minerals, and other luxury items from the time were found buried with high-status adults in the mounds (Kelly and Thomas 2014: 182). Though this does not mean their status was ascribed, there is a definite hierarchy amongst burials in the mounds, with those of extremely high status buried in the center mound while others are more spread out (Kelly and Thomas 2014: 182). Some were buried with nothing away from all the mounds. With this spatial context, there was also the matter of infants buried with lavish goods. Because they were so young, they died before they could have possibly achieved status. Archaeo