Winterville site facts for kids
Artist's conception of the Winterville site
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 Location in Mississippi
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| Location | Washington County, Mississippi,  USA |
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| Region | Washington County, Mississippi |
| Coordinates | 33°29′9″N 91°3′40″W / 33.48583°N 91.06111°W |
| History | |
| Abandoned | 1450 |
| Periods | Winterville Phase |
| Cultures | Plaquemine Mississippian culture |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1967 |
| Archaeologists | Jeffrey P. Brain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | platform mounds, plazas |
| Architectural details | Number of mounds: 23 |
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Winterville site
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| NRHP reference No. | 73001031 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 17, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | September 14, 1993 |
| Responsible body: State | |
The Winterville site is a really important archaeological site in Washington County, Mississippi, near the city of Greenville. It's famous for its huge earthwork monuments. These include more than twelve large platform mounds and flat, open areas called plazas.
This site is the main example for the Winterville Phase (from 1200 to 1400 CE) of the Plaquemine Mississippian culture. Today, it's a protected state park and has been named a National Historic Landmark. In 2015, the state approved $300,000 to fix up the mounds and add walking trails. There's also a museum at the site where you can learn more.
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Discovering the Winterville Mounds
The Winterville Mounds are named after the nearby town of Winterville, Mississippi. This place was once a special ceremonial center built by Native Americans. These people were part of the Plaquemine culture, which was a local group of the larger Mississippian culture. This amazing civilization was active from about 1000 to 1450 CE.
The earthwork mounds were a big part of the Winterville society's religious and political life. They were used for sacred buildings and ceremonies. Most of these mounds were built between 1200 and 1250 CE.
Who Lived at Winterville?
Archaeological findings show that most Winterville people lived on family farms. These farms were spread out across the Yazoo-Mississippi River Delta basin. Only a few important tribal leaders lived at the mound complex itself.
The Winterville ceremonial center originally had at least twenty-three platform mounds. These mounds surrounded several large, flat plazas. Some mounds outside the park were flattened by farming and road building before the site became Winterville State Park.
Protecting the Ancient Mounds
Today, twelve of the largest mounds are being preserved. This includes the 55-foot (17 m) tall Temple Mound. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History and the University of Mississippi are working on a long-term plan to protect them. In 2015, money was set aside to restore the mounds to how they looked long ago. This means removing trees and brush. Also, two new walking trails are being added for visitors.
What Happened to the Winterville Site?
Archaeologists believe there's a connection between the Winterville Mounds residents and the later Natchez Indians. French explorers met the Natchez in the early 1700s. The Natchez society had different social ranks, passed down through the mother's family. Chiefs and other leaders inherited their roles. This strong leadership helped organize the building of the mounds at Winterville. However, there isn't much evidence of many people living at the site. This suggests it was mainly used for ceremonies, not as a large town.
A big fire in the late 1300s destroyed the main building on the Temple Mound. We don't know why the fire started. People still used the site after the fire, but no new mounds were built. The number of people at Winterville slowly went down. Meanwhile, more people moved to settlements about 50 miles (80 km) south. By 1450 CE, the Winterville Mound site was completely empty. The time when the site was most active (1200 to 1400 CE) is called the Winterville Phase by archaeologists.
Digging Up History
The first modern archaeological digs at Winterville happened in the 1940s. The National Park Service and Harvard University were involved. Jeffrey P. Brain led more excavations in 1967. He wrote a report about his findings in 1989.
During these digs, they found burials and parts of old buildings. They also found things like pottery and stone tools. You can see some of these artifacts at the Winterville Museum in the park.
Winterville Mounds became a Mississippi state park in March 1969. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1993. The mounds are also part of the Mississippi Mound Trail.
Ancient Pottery at Winterville
The people of Winterville made pottery by hand. They built up strips of clay and then smoothed them. This was common in Eastern America, where the potter's wheel wasn't used. They added crushed mussel shells, grit, or bits of old pottery to the clay. This made the pottery stronger.
The pottery surfaces could be rough or very smooth and shiny. They made different shapes, from flat bowls to tall jars. Some pieces even had animal shapes as handles! The decorations ranged from plain to detailed designs from the S.E.C.C..
Most of the pottery found at Winterville is known as Addis Plain. Some pottery found here is thought to have come from other Mississippian groups. These pieces might have come from places like Cahokia. They often had red and white colors, thinner walls, and smoother finishes. These special pieces were probably valued because they were unique and well-made.
