Pocahontas Mounds facts for kids
Pocahontas Mound A
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 Location in Mississippi
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| Location | Pocahontas, Mississippi, Hinds County, Mississippi,  USA |
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| Region | Hinds County, Mississippi |
| Coordinates | 32°28′9.37″N 90°17′17.81″W / 32.4692694°N 90.2882806°W |
| History | |
| Founded | 800 AD |
| Abandoned | 1300 AD |
| Cultures | Coles Creek culture, Plaquemine Mississippian culture |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 2004 |
| Archaeologists | James A. Ford |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | platform mound, plaza, tumulus |
| Architectural details | Number of monuments: |
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Pocahontas Mound A
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| NRHP reference No. | 69000365 |
| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1969 |
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Pocahontas Mound B
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| NRHP reference No. | 72000694 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1972 |
| Responsible body: private | |
The Pocahontas Mounds (also known as 22 HI 500) are an important archaeological site in Hinds County, Mississippi. This ancient place was built by the Plaquemine Mississippian culture. People lived here between 800 and 1300 CE.
Two special mounds at this site are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Pocahontas Mound A was added on November 25, 1969. Pocahontas Mound B was added later, on April 11, 1972. This shows how important these ancient structures are.
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What are the Pocahontas Mounds?
The Pocahontas Mounds site has two main mounds and a nearby village area. One mound is a rectangular platform mound, which was likely used for ceremonies. The other is a mortuary mound, where people were buried.
Who lived at the site?
People from the Coles Creek and Plaquemine Mississippian cultures lived here from 800 to 1300 CE. However, archaeologists found signs that people also lived here much earlier. This was during the Middle-Late Archaic period, about 4000 to 1000 BCE.
Exploring Mound A
Mound A is the large platform mound. It is about 175 feet (53 meters) wide and 22 feet (6.7 meters) tall. In the late 1930s, an archaeologist named James A. Ford described it as even bigger. He said it was 250 feet (76 meters) by 350 feet (107 meters) at its base and 25 feet (7.6 meters) tall.
Archaeologists found traces of an old building on top of Mound A. This building was likely a temple or the home of a chief. It was made from logs covered with clay and had a thatched roof.
Discovering Mound B
Mound B is about 1200 feet (366 meters) northwest of Mound A. It is a steep, cone-shaped mound. It measures about 75 feet (23 meters) across and 10 feet (3 meters) tall.
When James A. Ford studied the site, Mound B was on school grounds. This meant he could not dig there.
What did archaeologists find?
Many interesting items have been found at the site. These include copper ear-spools, which are special ornaments. They also found Mississippian culture pottery and flint chips. Many burials were discovered in the fields around the mounds.
Children from the local school found some unique artifacts at the burial mound. These included a broken bowl shaped like a bird and a ceramic pipe shaped like a human. The pottery found here is very similar to pottery from another important site called the Anna Site.
Recent Discoveries and Park
New archaeological digs happened in June 2004. Jeffrey Alvey led these excavations for the Cobb Institute of Archaeology. The Mississippi Department of Transportation helped fund this work.
In 2008, a special roadside park opened at Mound A. This park is both a rest stop and an educational center. It teaches visitors about the history and importance of the Pocahontas Mounds.
Where are the Mounds Located?
The Pocahontas Mounds site is now a roadside park. You can find it along U.S. Route 49. It is close to where Route 49 meets Interstate 220.
