Greenhouse Site facts for kids
Layout of the site
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 Greenhouse Site
Location in Louisiana
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| Location | Marksville, Louisiana, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana,  USA |
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| Region | Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana |
| Coordinates | 31°8′22.31″N 92°2′25.73″W / 31.1395306°N 92.0404806°W |
| History | |
| Founded | 400 CE |
| Abandoned | 1000 |
| Cultures | Troyville culture, Coles Creek culture |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1938 |
| Archaeologists | James A. Ford, |
| Responsible body: private | |
The Greenhouse Site is an important archaeological site located in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. It was built by ancient people from the Troyville culture and Coles Creek culture. These cultures lived in the area between 400 CE and 1000 CE.
Contents
What is the Greenhouse Site?
The Greenhouse Site is a place where archaeologists have found many clues about past civilizations. It is known as the most thoroughly studied site from the Troyville-Coles Creek period in Louisiana.
Exploring the Site's Layout
The site features seven large platform mounds. These mounds are like raised platforms made of earth. They are arranged around a central open area called a plaza. This plaza measures about 200 feet (61 meters) by 350 feet (107 meters).
Archaeologists believe the site was mainly used for ceremonies. They haven't found any evidence of a permanent village nearby. This suggests that the people who built and used the mounds might have lived in other places and only gathered here for special events.
The Main Mounds
Three of the mounds are especially large and form a triangle:
- Mound A: This mound is about 12 feet (3.7 meters) tall. Its base is about 120 feet (37 meters) square, and its top is about 80 feet (24 meters) square.
- Mound E: Similar to Mound A, it is about 10 feet (3 meters) tall. Its base is also about 120 feet (37 meters) square, with a top of about 80 feet (24 meters) square.
- Mound G: This is the third large mound that completes the triangular shape with Mounds A and E.
These impressive earthworks show how skilled the ancient people were at building large structures.
Who Discovered and Studied the Site?
The Greenhouse Site was excavated, or carefully dug up and studied, in 1938. The main archaeologist who worked on the site was James A. Ford. His work helped us learn a lot about the Troyville and Coles Creek cultures.
