Atchafalaya Basin Mounds facts for kids
 Location in Louisiana
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| Location | Patterson, Louisiana USA |
|---|---|
| Region | St. Mary Parish, Louisiana |
| Coordinates | 29°43′21.07″N 91°17′56.868″W / 29.7225194°N 91.29913000°W |
| History | |
| Founded | 980 CE |
| Abandoned | 18th century |
| Cultures | Coastal Coles Creek, Plaquemine, Chitimacha |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Clarence Bloomfield Moore |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | platform mounds |
| Responsible body: private | |
The Atchafalaya Basin Mounds (also known as the Patterson Mounds) is an ancient site in Louisiana. It was once home to Native American groups like the Coastal Coles Creek and Plaquemine culture people. They started living here around the year 980 CE. Later, the Chitimacha people, who are likely descendants of these earlier groups, lived here in the 1700s.
This important historical place is found in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. It sits on the north bank of Bayou Teche, where it meets the Lower Atchafalaya River. The site has several large earthen structures called platform mounds. There is also a shell midden, which is a pile of ancient shells and other trash. These features are all built around a central open area called a plaza. An archaeologist named Clarence Bloomfield Moore visited and studied the site in 1913.
Exploring the Atchafalaya Mounds
The Atchafalaya Basin Mounds site has faced a lot of damage over the years. Natural forces like erosion have worn it down. Sadly, people looking for old treasures (called "pot hunters") and even joy riders on ATVs have also caused harm.
What You Can See Today
Today, the site features three main platform mounds. There is also a raised area made of shells that forms a ring around a rectangular central plaza. It's possible there was once a fourth mound on the southern edge of the site. However, it may have been washed away into the nearby Bayou Teche over time.
The central plaza area is about 0.44 hectares (1.1 acres) in size. This is where the ancient people likely gathered for important events.
The Main Mounds
- Mound A: This is the largest mound still standing. It's located at the western corner of the plaza. Mound A is about 2.8 meters (9.2 feet) tall and 30 meters (98 feet) wide.
- Mound B: This mound is about 25 meters (82 feet) northeast of Mound A. It stands about 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) tall.
- Mound C: About 30 meters (98 feet) southeast of Mound B is Mound C. This mound is a low, rectangular platform, about 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) tall. It might have been much taller in the past.
The Shell Midden
An elevated area stretches from the base of Mound A along the southwestern edge of the plaza. This area is a shell midden. It contains many shells from a type of clam called Rangia cuneata. You can also find pieces of Plaquemine culture pottery here. These pottery pieces are special because they contain "grog," which is crushed pottery used to strengthen the clay. This midden might have ended where a fourth mound once stood.
The total area of the mounds and plaza covers about 1.2 hectares (3 acres). However, archaeologists believe that the ancient village where people lived daily was even larger, extending beyond this main area.
