Etowah was a Native American chiefdom with a highly structured social order and permanent political officers. Kinship rules guided social ranking, and political officers received the right to rule by virtue of birth. As both a political and religious leader, a chief ruled until his death. From his temple and home atop Mound A, the chief could rule his people and perform religious ceremonies. Georgia's chiefdom societies emerged around A.D. 1000. Early Spanish explorers, including DeSoto, who visited Etowah around A.D. 1540, described a complex system of paramount chiefdoms where individual chiefs and their supporters formed alliances and fought wars to establish their regional political dominance. Mound A, a temple mound, stands about 65 feet high, with a broad ramp projecting from its eastern side and a smaller terrace attached to the south. Construction most likely began in the early years of Etowah's occupation, about A. D. 1000. Around A.D. 1300, Etowah rose to prominence, reaching its peak about A.D. 1325. Considerable mound construction occurred during these years, and a staircase of packed clay and logs measuring approximately 22 feet wide was added to Mound A. Mound A has not been completely excavated.