Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site
Encyclopedia
Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site, (16 AV 1), also known as Marksville State Historic Site, is a Hopewell tradition earthworks archaeological site
in Louisiana
, one mile (1.6 km) southeast of Marksville
in Avoyelles Parish
.
for the Marksville culture
of prehistoric indigenous peoples of southeastern North America. Centuries later the Avoyel
and Natchez
tribes lived there until 1700 CE. Burial mounds at the site are surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped earthen embankment about 3000 feet (914.4 m) long.
The Marksville Site was the first scientifically excavated site of the Marksville Culture.
in 1964. The site is now also a State Commemorative Area.
The 42 acres (169,968.1 m²) site is maintained by the state of Louisiana
and features a museum with artifact
s found at the site and exhibits about the prehistoric people that lived in this Marksville culture area. There are also trails to the mounds and picnic facilities.
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, one mile (1.6 km) southeast of Marksville
Marksville, Louisiana
Marksville is a city in and the parish seat of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,537 at the 2000 census. Louisiana's first land-based casino, Paragon Casino Resort, opened in Marksville in June 1994...
in Avoyelles Parish
Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana
Avoyelles is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Marksville. In 2000, its population was 41,481. The parish is named for the Avoyel Indian tribe.-History:...
.
Description
It the type siteType site
In archaeology a type site is a site that is considered the model of a particular archaeological culture...
for the Marksville culture
Marksville culture
The Marksville culture was an archaeological culture in the lower Lower Mississippi valley, Yazoo valley, and Tensas valley areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas and extended eastward along the Gulf Coast to the Mobile Bay area, from 100 BCE to 400 CE. This culture takes its name...
of prehistoric indigenous peoples of southeastern North America. Centuries later the Avoyel
Avoyel
The Avoyel or Avoyelles was a small Natchez-speaking tribe who inhabited land near the mouth of the Red River in the area of present-day Marksville, Louisiana. The indigenous name for this tribe is Tamoucougoula. The word Avoyel is of French derivation and means either "Flint People" or "the...
and Natchez
Natchez people
The Natchez are a Native American people who originally lived in the Natchez Bluffs area, near the present-day city of Natchez, Mississippi. They spoke a language isolate that has no known close relatives, although it may be very distantly related to the Muskogean languages of the Creek...
tribes lived there until 1700 CE. Burial mounds at the site are surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped earthen embankment about 3000 feet (914.4 m) long.
The Marksville Site was the first scientifically excavated site of the Marksville Culture.
Landmark and access
The archaeological site was declared a National Historic LandmarkNational Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1964. The site is now also a State Commemorative Area.
The 42 acres (169,968.1 m²) site is maintained by the state of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and features a museum with artifact
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
s found at the site and exhibits about the prehistoric people that lived in this Marksville culture area. There are also trails to the mounds and picnic facilities.
External links
- Marksville State Historic Site - official site