Mississippi Mound Trail

The Mississippi Mound Trail is a driving tour of 33 sites adjoining U.S. Route 61 where indigenous peoples of the Mississippi Delta built earthworks.[1] The mounds were primarily built between 500 and 1500 AD,[2] but are representative of a variety of cultures known as the Mound Builders. Each site has a historical marker and is accessible by road.[3]

Official Logo

Opened in 2016,[1] the trail was a joint venture between the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Mississippi Department of Transportation and various other stakeholders.[4]

Mississippi Mound Trail sites edit

Mound name Mound location Listed on NRHP Photograph Notes
Aden Mounds Near Valley Park at 32°38′13.09″N 90°50′10.82″W / 32.6369694°N 90.8363389°W / 32.6369694; -90.8363389 Yes Type site for the Aden Phase (800–900 CE) of Lower Yazoo Basin Coles Creek culture chronology
Anguilla Mound Anguilla at 32°58′21″N 90°50′29″W / 32.97250°N 90.84139°W / 32.97250; -90.84139 No Site consists of a single mound
Arcola Mounds Near Arcola at 33°14′42″N 90°52′55″W / 33.24500°N 90.88194°W / 33.24500; -90.88194 Yes Only three of the original six mounds exist today.
Batesville Mounds Batesville at 34°20′51″N 89°55′25″W / 34.34750°N 89.92361°W / 34.34750; -89.92361 Yes   Originally consisted of seven mounds, with only four currently visible. Listed as a Mississippi Landmark. The Batesville Mounds listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. [5]
Bayou Pierre Mounds Near Port Gibson at 31°58′56″N 91°00′17″W / 31.98222°N 91.00472°W / 31.98222; -91.00472 Yes Consists of three mounds (and possibly a fourth)
Beaverdam Mounds Near Evansville at 34°37′44″N 90°23′39″W / 34.62889°N 90.39417°W / 34.62889; -90.39417 Yes Site consists of two earthen mounds and a former village
Carson Mounds Stovall at 34°17′37.4″N 90°40′16.04″W / 34.293722°N 90.6711222°W / 34.293722; -90.6711222 Yes   Only five of the original seven mounds currently exist
Carter Mounds Near Rolling Fork at 32°55′22.6″N 90°53′00.3″W / 32.922944°N 90.883417°W / 32.922944; -90.883417 No Site consists of a platform mound and burial mound
Cary Mounds Cary at 32°48′14.5″N 90°55′53.0″W / 32.804028°N 90.931389°W / 32.804028; -90.931389 Yes Only one of four original mounds exists today
Christmas Mound Near Beulah at 33°46′10.6″N 90°58′43.6″W / 33.769611°N 90.978778°W / 33.769611; -90.978778 No Consists of a single mound with a private cemetery located atop the mound.
Dunn Mounds Near Lyon at 34°12′58.7″N 90°28′32.7″W / 34.216306°N 90.475750°W / 34.216306; -90.475750 No Site consists of three mounds
Edgefield Mounds Near Norfolk at 34°59′32.5″N 90°12′52.8″W / 34.992361°N 90.214667°W / 34.992361; -90.214667 No Consists of three mounds
Emerald Mound Stanton at 31°38′9.98″N 91°14′50.02″W / 31.6361056°N 91.2472278°W / 31.6361056; -91.2472278 Yes   Type site for the Emerald Phase (1500 to 1680 CE) of the Natchez Bluffs Plaquemine culture chronology and second-largest Mississippian period earthwork in the country. Also a National Historic Landmark
Evansville Mounds Evansville at 34°38′19.6″N 90°23′32.8″W / 34.638778°N 90.392444°W / 34.638778; -90.392444 Yes Originally consisted of four mounds but only two remain. An abandoned schoolhouse is located on Mound B.
Foster Mounds Near Washington at 31°36′03.4″N 90°19′40.9″W / 31.600944°N 90.328028°W / 31.600944; -90.328028 Yes   Consists of two mounds. An antebellum home is located on Mound A.
Grace Mounds Grace at 32°59′23.4″N 90°58′12.6″W / 32.989833°N 90.970167°W / 32.989833; -90.970167 Yes Only two of the original five mounds currently exist
Glass Mounds Warrenton at 32°13′49.1″N 90°56′09.6″W / 32.230306°N 90.936000°W / 32.230306; -90.936000 No Possibly consisted of five mounds but only three are currently intact
Grand Village of the Natchez Natchez at 32°31′25.0″N 91°22′46.4″W / 32.523611°N 91.379556°W / 32.523611; -91.379556 Yes   Originally contained six mounds, but only three are intact today. Occupied by the Natchez until 1730. Listed as a National Historic Landmark.
Haynes Bluff Mounds Near Redwood at 32°31′26.9″N 90°46′47.0″W / 32.524139°N 90.779722°W / 32.524139; -90.779722 No Originally consisted of four mounds but only two remain today
Hollywood Mounds Near Hollywood at 34°46′39.2″N 90°22′13.7″W / 34.777556°N 90.370472°W / 34.777556; -90.370472 No   Originally consisted of one large mound and multiple boundary mounds, but only the platform mound and three boundary mounds remain today. Also a Mississippi Landmark.
Jaketown Mounds Near Deovolente at 33°14′13.542″N 90°29′13.2936″W / 33.23709500°N 90.487026000°W / 33.23709500; -90.487026000 Yes   Once consisted of eighteen mounds but only three are visible today. Also a Mississippi Landmark and National Historic Landmark.
Johnson Cemetery Mound Hollywood at 34°44′27.0″N 90°21′57.5″W / 34.740833°N 90.365972°W / 34.740833; -90.365972 Yes Site consists of a mound and accompanying village. A private cemetery is located on the mound.
Law Mounds Foote at 33°05′17.0″N 91°01′09.1″W / 33.088056°N 91.019194°W / 33.088056; -91.019194 No Only one of the original three mounds exists today.
Lake George Mounds Holly Bluff at 32°48′51.2″N 90°41′02.5″W / 32.814222°N 90.684028°W / 32.814222; -90.684028 Yes   Consisted of up to twenty eight mounds but only a few are currently visible. Listed as a National Historic Landmark.
Lessley Mound Near Woodville at 31°09′30.2″N 91°26′25.9″W / 31.158389°N 91.440528°W / 31.158389; -91.440528 No Site consists of a single mound with the Lessley family cemetery located atop the mound
Mont Helena Mounds Near Rolling Fork at 32°56′39.6″N 90°52′12.7″W / 32.944333°N 90.870194°W / 32.944333; -90.870194 No   Possibly consisted of three mounds, but only one exists today. A Victorian neoclassical home currently sits atop the mound.
Pocahontas Mounds Pocahontas, Mississippi at 32°28′9.37″N 90°17′17.81″W / 32.4692694°N 90.2882806°W / 32.4692694; -90.2882806 Yes   Site contains two mounds. Also listed as a Mississippi Landmark.
Rolling Fork Mounds Rolling Fork at 32°53′47.7″N 90°52′44.0″W / 32.896583°N 90.878889°W / 32.896583; -90.878889 Yes   Originally consisted of three mounds but only two remain today
Salomon Mounds Near Coahoma at 34°22′39.3″N 90°29′24.2″W / 34.377583°N 90.490056°W / 34.377583; -90.490056 Yes Possibly consisted of twelve mounds, but only three exist today. A private cemetery is located atop Mound A.
Smith Creek Mounds Near Fort Adams at 31°08′22.0″N 91°30′59.1″W / 31.139444°N 91.516417°W / 31.139444; -91.516417 Yes Site consists of three mounds
Swan Lake Mounds Near Foote at 33°05′58.0″N 90°59′54.5″W / 33.099444°N 90.998472°W / 33.099444; -90.998472 No Originally included four mounds but only two exist today
Windsor Mounds Bruinsburg at 31°56′45.2″N 91°07′36.4″W / 31.945889°N 91.126778°W / 31.945889; -91.126778 Yes Site consists of four mounds with a private cemetery located on Mound C.
Winterville Mounds Near Winterville at 33°29′9″N 91°3′40″W / 33.48583°N 91.06111°W / 33.48583; -91.06111 Yes   Originally consisted of more than twenty mounds. Listed as a Mississippi Landmark and National Historic Landmark.

Source: Mississippi Mound Trail official web site

References edit

  1. ^ a b "County Sites Play Big Role In Mississippi Mound Trail". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  2. ^ "New Indian Mound Trail is ancient history". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  3. ^ "Book Review: 'The Natchez Indians: A History to 1735'". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  4. ^ "Mississippi Mounds Trail". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  5. ^ Howell, John (14 June 2013). "Pan-Gens ask to have Batesville included on mound trail 6/14/13". The Panolian.

External links edit