Mangum Mound Site facts for kids
Mangum Mound
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 Location in Mississippi
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| Location | Port Gibson, Claiborne County, Mississippi,  USA |
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| Region | Claiborne County, Mississippi |
| Coordinates | 31°59′30.3″N 90°53′59.14″W / 31.991750°N 90.8997611°W |
| History | |
| Periods | Foster Phase |
| Cultures | Plaquemine culture |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1936, 1951, 1963 |
| Archaeologists | Charles F. Bohannon |
| Responsible body: State of Mississippi | |
The Mangum Mound Site (also known as 22 CB 584) is an ancient place in Claiborne County, Mississippi. It is located along the Natchez Trace Parkway. This site was once home to people of the Plaquemine culture. They lived here a long time ago, between 1350 and 1500 CE. This was before the famous explorer Hernando de Soto came to the area in the 1540s. Archaeologists have found some very special copper plates here. These plates are rare and show amazing ancient artwork.
Discovering the Mangum Mound Site
Early Finds
The Mangum Mound was first explored in 1936. Its owner, a farmer named Spurgeon C. Mangum, found some interesting things. He discovered human bones and pieces of ancient pots. These pots were made by the Plaquemine culture. He also found special stones used for a game called chunkey.
Most excitingly, he found three pieces of a special copper plate. This plate had a bird-like design. It was made using a technique called repoussé, which means the design is hammered from the back to make it stand out. This type of artwork is often linked to the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex, a network of shared beliefs and art among ancient Native American cultures. The bird design is similar to the "Birdman" motif, an important figure in their stories.
Later Excavations
In April 1951, archaeologists did more tests at the site. This was part of a survey for the Natchez Trace Park. They found twelve burials where bodies were laid out straight. They also found what might have been a "bundled burial," where bones were gathered together.
The site was explored again in 1963 by archaeologist Charles F. Bohannon for the National Park Service. Bohannon and his team found the remains of many people. One person, believed to be a woman in her late 30s, had marks on her bones. These marks suggested she had a bone condition.
Bohannon's team found the remains of eighty-four people. More than half of these were "bundled burials." This means the bones were collected and reburied, sometimes just as piles of bones. Bohannon thought these might have been older burials that were moved to make space for new ones. During these excavations, another rare copper plate was also discovered.
