Grand Village of the Natchez facts for kids
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Grand Village of the Natchez
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Main mound at the Grand Village of the Natchez Site in Natchez, Mississippi
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | 400 Jefferson Davis Boulevard, Natchez, Mississippi |
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| NRHP reference No. | 66000408 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | July 19, 1964 |
The Grand Village of the Natchez (also known as the Fatherland Site) is a special place in south Natchez, Mississippi. It covers about 128 acres (0.5 square kilometers). This site was once a village for ancient Native American people. It also has large earthwork mounds.
People from the prehistoric Plaquemine culture started building this village around 1200 CE. They built three large platform mounds in different stages. More building work happened in the mid-1400s. Later, the historic Natchez people used this site in the 1600s and 1700s. They even added to the mounds.
In the early 1700s, the Grand Village was the main center for the Natchez tribe. It was important for their government and religious ceremonies. Before this, the Emerald Mound Site was their main center. After a big fight with French settlers in 1730, the Natchez left the site. They moved to other places.
In the early 1800s, the land became part of a private farm called Fatherland Plantation. In 1930, people started digging to find old things (archaeological excavations). They found three mounds that had been partly covered by dirt.
The Grand Village was named a National Historic Landmark in 1964. It became a Mississippi Landmark in 1985.
Contents
The Grand Village: A Look Back
Building the Mounds
Building at the Grand Village started around 1200 CE. This was during the Anna phase of the prehistoric Plaquemine culture. Workers carried all the soil for the mounds by hand, likely in woven baskets. Skilled builders knew how to use different soils to make the mounds strong.
More building happened in the mid-1400s, during the Emerald phase of the Plaquemine culture. The site had three special platform mounds.
The Natchez People's Home
From 1682 to 1729, the Natchez people used the village as their main ceremonial center. French explorers wrote about this at the time. The three mounds were used for important religious and political events.
Researchers first called the mounds A, B, and C. Now, they are known as Abandoned Mound, Sun Mound, and Temple Mound. The Sun and Temple Mounds have been dug up and rebuilt. The Abandoned Mound has not.
Between 1700 and 1730, the Natchez added more to Mounds B and C. On top of Mound B, they built the home of the Great Sun. The Great Sun was the most important leader of the tribe. Mound C was the base for the Sun Temple. This temple had a special building for the remains of important Natchez people. By the time Europeans arrived, the Natchez were no longer using Mound A.
Most Natchez people lived in small villages nearby. They would gather at the Grand Village for special events. They were farmers and lived in permanent homes.
Changes and Conflicts
During this time, French settlers began to explore the area. They started building settlements that slowly moved onto Natchez land. At first, everyone got along. But the French colonists started using up the resources the Natchez needed to live.
Some fights happened in 1716 and 1723, which caused problems. The Natchez gave some land to the French to keep the peace.
In 1728, the Great Sun passed away. This made things unstable and caused more tension. His successor, the Young Sun, was not as friendly to the French. Also, the Natchez tribe was caught between the French and British, who both wanted to trade with them.
In 1729, a group within the tribe who favored the British attacked the French settlements at Fort Rosalie. The French fought back with their Native American allies. They forced the Natchez out of the area. Some Natchez people escaped and found safety with other tribes, like the Creek and Cherokee. After the French forced 300 Natchez survivors to work for others in the West Indies, the Natchez "stopped existing as a single cultural group."
Discovering the Past
In the late 1800s, researchers named the mounds after the Fatherland Plantation. This farm had been started earlier that century on much of the site. Its owners had farmed part of the area. Later, researchers found that this was the "Grand Village of the Natchez" mentioned in old French records. So, they decided to use that name to honor the Natchez history.
Archaeological digs happened in 1930, 1962, and 1972. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) led these efforts. Based on what they found, the state rebuilt Mounds B and C to their original size. Other groups, like the National Park Service and several universities, have also continued to study the site with the MDAH.
Today, the Grand Village is a popular place for visitors in Natchez. The state of Mississippi manages it. The large property has a museum with many old items found at the site. It also has a big collection of baskets made by local tribes. You can also see items buried with important Natchez leaders. There is a rebuilt Natchez house, picnic areas, and nature trails. Part of the mound area has been restored for visitors to see.
