Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site

Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site
16 AV 1

Burial mound at the site
Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site
16 AV 1
Location in Louisiana today
Location
Coordinates 31°7′29″N 92°2′52″W / 31.12472°N 92.04778°W
Country  USA
Region Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana
Nearest town Marksville, Louisiana
History
Culture Marksville culture, Avoyel and Natchez peoples
Excavation and maintenance
Responsible body Private
Architecture
Number of temples
Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site
Architect Unknown
Governing body Private
NRHP Reference # 66000372
Significant dates
Added to NRHP October 15, 1966[1]
Designated NHL July 19, 1964[2]

Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site, (16 AV 1), also known as the Marksville State Historic Site, is a Marksville culture archaeological site located 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of Marksville in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. The site features numerous earthworks built by the prehistoric indigenous peoples of southeastern North America.

Description

Marksville is the type site for the Marksville culture (a local variation of the Hopewell tradition) and was the first scientifically excavated site for the culture. Centuries later the Avoyel and Natchez peoples lived in the vicinity of the site until 1700.[3] Burial mounds at the site are surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped earthen embankment about 3,000 feet (910 m) long.

Landmark and access

The archaeological site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964.[2][4] The site is now also a State Commemorative Area.

The 42-acre (170,000 m2) site is maintained by the state of Louisiana and features a museum with artifacts found at the site and exhibits about the prehistoric people that lived in the Marksville culture area.[5] There are also trails to the mounds and picnic facilities.

See also

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  3. Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. "Marksville Indian Museum Historical Marker".
  4. Griffin, John W. (February 28, 1964). "National Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings: Marksville" (PDF). National Park Service. and Accompanying photos, exterior and interior, from 19. PDF (32 KB)
  5. "Louisiana Prehistory-Marksville, Troyville-Coles Creek, and Caddo". Retrieved 2010-02-04.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marksville State Historic Site.