The Late Prehistoric period lasted from about 1,000 years ago until the time of contact with Europeans, about 500 years ago. By this time, people were living in permanent towns and villages. They continued to hunt, fish, and gather, and grew the same plants as their Archaic and Woodland ancestors, but a new crop came to dominate their gardens: maize, or corn. Beans were also grown in some places. Two regional farming societies (Mississippian and Fort Ancient) were present in Kentucky, with different social and political organization and settlement patterns. Mississippians lived in western and southern Kentucky, while Fort Ancient peoples inhabited the eastern and central parts of the state. Large, flat-topped earthen temple mounds were built in western and southern Kentucky; low earthen burial mounds were built in central and eastern Kentucky.