Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site facts for kids
Artists conception of the site layout.
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 Location in Louisiana
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| Location | Marksville, Louisiana, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana,  USA |
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| Region | Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana |
| Coordinates | 31°7′29″N 92°2′52″W / 31.12472°N 92.04778°W |
| History | |
| Cultures | Marksville culture, Avoyel and Natchez peoples |
| Site notes | |
| Management | Municipal |
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Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site
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| NRHP reference No. | 66000372 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | July 19, 1964 |
The Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site is an amazing archaeological site in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. It is about 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of the town of Marksville. This special place has many large earthworks, which are mounds and shapes made from earth. These were built long ago by the Native American people who lived in this part of North America.
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Discovering the Marksville Site
The Marksville site is very important to learning about the Marksville culture. This was a group of people who lived here a long time ago. The Marksville culture was a local version of the wider Hopewell tradition. The Hopewell tradition was a network of ancient cultures that lived across eastern North America.
Archaeologists first studied the Marksville site scientifically in the 1920s. This made it the first site to be properly excavated for the Marksville culture. This is why it's called the "type site" for the culture. This means it's the main example that helps us understand this ancient group of people.
Who Lived at Marksville?
People lived at the Marksville site between the years 0 and 400 CE. This was determined by using a method called radiometric dating. This method helps scientists figure out the age of ancient objects and sites.
Centuries after the Marksville culture, other Native American groups lived near this area. These included the Avoyel and Natchez peoples. They lived there until about the year 1700.
What Can You See at the Site?
The Marksville site has several burial mounds. These are special mounds where people were buried. These mounds are surrounded by a large, horseshoe-shaped earthen wall. This wall is about 3,000 feet (914 meters) long!
The Marksville site is one of the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. It has unique ring-shaped features that are not found anywhere else. Because of its importance, archaeologists continue to study the site regularly.
Protecting the Marksville Site
The Marksville archaeological site was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1964. This means it's a very important historical place in the United States.
The site used to be a Louisiana State Park. However, in August 2020, the City of Marksville took over its ownership and management. As of December 2020, the site is closed to the public.
