Baytown Site facts for kids
A map of the Baytown Site
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| Location | Indian Bay, Arkansas, Monroe County, Arkansas,  USA |
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| Region | Monroe County, Arkansas |
| History | |
| Cultures | Baytown culture, Plum Bayou culture |
| Site notes | |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | platform mounds, plaza |
| Architectural details | Number of monuments: |
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Baytown Site
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| NRHP reference No. | 76000440. |
| Added to NRHP | May 13, 1976 |
| Responsible body: private | |
The Baytown Site is an ancient place in Monroe County, Arkansas. It was once home to Native American people long before Christopher Columbus came to America. This special spot is located right by the White River in a place called Indian Bay.
Archaeologists study sites like Baytown to learn about the past. This site is very important because it helps us understand the Baytown culture. This culture lived here from about 300 to 700 CE. Later, another group called the Plum Bayou culture lived here for a short time, from about 650 to 1050 CE. These times are part of what historians call the Late Woodland period.
The Baytown Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 1976. This means it's a protected place because of its historical importance.
Contents
What Was the Baytown Site Like?
The Baytown Site was a village with a special layout. It had nine large platform mounds built by the people who lived there. These mounds were arranged around an open area called a plaza.
Understanding the Mounds
- Platform mounds are big, flat-topped hills made by people. They were often used for important buildings or ceremonies.
- The two tallest mounds at Baytown were quite impressive. One was about 20 feet (6 meters) high, and the other was about 10 feet (3 meters) high.
- Other mounds at the site were smaller, standing about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall or less.
The Plaza Area
- The plaza was an open space in the middle of the mounds. It was likely a central gathering place.
- People probably used the plaza for community events, markets, or religious ceremonies.
Who Lived at Baytown?
The main group of people who lived at the Baytown Site were from the Baytown culture. This culture is named after this very site because it's where archaeologists first learned a lot about them.
The Baytown Culture (300 to 700 CE)
- The Baytown culture was part of the Late Woodland period.
- They were skilled builders, creating the large mounds and organizing their village around a plaza.
- Archaeologists study the tools, pottery, and remains found at sites like Baytown to understand how these people lived.
The Plum Bayou Culture (650 to 1050 CE)
- After the Baytown culture, the Plum Bayou culture briefly used the site.
- This shows that the area remained important to different groups of Native Americans over time.
