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<< Our Photo Pages >> Moundville Archeological Park - Ancient Village or Settlement in United States in The South

Submitted by partlow on Friday, 28 July 2023  Page Views: 15282

Pre-ColumbianSite Name: Moundville Archeological Park
Country: United States
NOTE: This site is 64.273 km away from the location you searched for.

Region: The South Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Nearest Town: Tuscaloosa, Alabama  Nearest Village: Moundville, Alabama
Latitude: 33.009200N  Longitude: 87.6351W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
4

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I have visited· I would like to visit

CatHerdr visited Museum has recently been upgraded and reopened. I was really disappointed by the concrete building with a tin roof that the University of Alabama has built atop the highest mound. What were they thinking??? The museum has a engraved copper gorget that is the largest piece of metal from this era & culture I have ever seen at any museum I have visited. The staff and the information on their website seems to be very sketchy on other trading centers from this era in other states. A huge web of commerce existed along Southern US waterways.

bat400 have visited here

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : Photo courtesy Dr Greg Little, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks (2016). The 65-ft high "chief's mound" at the Moundville, Alabama complex. There is a person walking up the ramp of this 900-year old mound to give a size scale. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Moundville is the second largest Mississipian center, built on a bluff above a bend of the Warrior River and encompassing over 300 acres with 26 mounds surrounding a central plaza of roughly 100 acres. Top photo: Part of a life-size diorama of an elite member of the mound society. He is wearing copper horns, freshwater pearls, animal claws/teeth, and a copper and shell gorget.

The museum at the site has new exhibits. Placards describe the visible remains as well as archeological evidence of original wooden structures. The University of Alabama website home for Moundville with access information, a virtual tour, and an invitation for the public to help locate artifacts stolen in the 1980's.

Moundville At Dusk: Playing With Perspectives - by partlow

Back in 1978, as I was making my way back to Birmingham Alabama on Interstate 59 from Tuscaloosa (University of Alabama), I took and unexpected detour to Moundville Archeological Park. Driving the access road through the trees, there was the clearing which came abruptly. There I found myself in the midst of numerous rectangular earth mounds set around a central plaza. In the eerie light of the last hour of sunlight, one could easily fall into the sensation of this place being in what some mystics refer to as “the space between the worlds”. As I walked to the mound topped by the “temple”, the movement of air, the scents and sounds, even the stillness of it all lent to this sensation. Ascending the temple mound, one could almost feel those ancient people, who held this place in prominence. A feeling of reverence was very easy. Atop the mound, as you walk around the temple, the vista offered a perspective of the plaza, structures, the palisade surrounding the village and the Warrior River to the West.
A sensation of despair and bewilderment was also easy due to thoughts of : ‘Where are these people now', a civilization, made up of so many chiefdoms and tribes, which spanned the distance from the Gulf and Caribbean in the south to the Great Lakes in the North and from the Atlantic in the East to Oklahoma and possibly more to the West. Why did it cease? A society (if you will allow) that was so linked by a vast continental riverine system with possibly those societies out west beyond the Great Plains, and also those in Meso-America (at least), was developing at the same stage, in some repects, as was Europe (again). Could it have been contact with marauding, gold hungry conquistadors, accompanied by evangelical priests, using weapons more advanced, who also inadverdantly spread devastating diseases where-ever they went? The answer to that is only in some areas. Moundville, called Talicpacana by some aboriginies , was abandoned by 1450 (by archeological interpretation) and was a mystery to the aboriginies by their accounts to the DeSoto expedition in November of 1540. The site developed from a village (approx. 1000 A.D.) to a ceremonial/political center (approx. 1200 A.D.), to a decline while still holding some important status (approx. 1400 A.D.).

Accordingly, Moundville is the second largest Mississipian center, built on a bluff of the Warrior River and encompassing over 300 acres with 26 mounds surrounding a central plaza of roughly 100 acres. Mound A is at the center of the plaza while Mound B, to it’s north, is at the edge of the plaza. Mound B (58 ft high) has two ramps, one on the eastern side and the other on the north side descending to a large platform (V). These platform mounds were used for plastered dwellings of the aristocracy as well as for mortuary, ceremonial and utilitarian purposes. Also, there are pits, other public buildings and traces of dozens of dwellings made of timber and thatch. According to an “Archeological Sketch” of the site, the whole (roughly square) complex was enclosed by a ‘bastioned’ palisade on all sides but the Warrior River. Some of the smaller mounds contained richly furnished burials consisting of artifacts of copper and galena (a natural type of lead crystal) from the Great Lakes region, shells from the Gulf of Mexico, greenstone from the Appalachians, mica, various motifs of pottery and stone including the famous Rattlesnake Disk; which represents a motif found (by my knowledge) exclusively in that area of the Warrior River valley (consider this as a challenge if you will).

Considering this situation of burials, only a few of the mounds contain such, while at the edge of the plaza, roughly 3000 burials have been found. Also, burials are found beneath the floors of many of the dwellings on the site (from my gleaning of facts from different articles, these 3000 burials could coincide with the dwelling burials). An example of such a burial situation can be found in a closed off display wing of the museum on site.

Evidence shows that tribute to this center (approx.population of 1000) was exacted from throughout that locality of the valley (maize, other produce, labor, etc.) which supported a population of approximately ten thousand and dominated a trade network throughout the region. It is said to be second only to Cahokia in Illinois and is used as a benchmark for the study of Mississippian art. Any connection with existing historical tribes is not known due to the mystery involving decline.
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Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by bat400 : The Rattlesnake Disk. It's thought that this stone Disk was used as a palette. The two knotted rattlesnakes appear with "horns". These may be greatly exaggerated images of the sharp edged contour of the "hood" over the snake's eyes, or, more likely, a mythological snake or serpent. The eye in hand symbol appears in other places in the world in addition to the "southern ceremonial complex" of A... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by bat400 : The view from the back of the Jones Archeological Museum. Mounds "P", "O", and "N" in the foreground. bat400, June 2008. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : Life-size diorama at the Moundville, Alabama museum of an elite member of the mound society. He is wearing copper horns, freshwater pearls, animal claws/teeth, and a copper and shell gorget. Photo courtesy Dr Greg Little, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks (2016). (Vote or comment on this photo)

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by bat400 : Detail of the exterior decoration of the Jones Archaeological Museum on the grounds of the Moundville Park. The motif is taken directly from artifacts found at Moundville. bat400, June 2008. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by bat400 : Mounds "R", "Q", and "P" at the northwest edge of the central plaza. bat400, June 2008. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by bat400 : This axe was found in the Black Warrior River by a fisherman, south of Moundville in 1981. It was pulled out of the sediment on a trotline. Carbon dated to ca. 1100 AD, it is as old as the founding of Moundville. bat400, June 2008.

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by bat400 : The motif of skulls and bones (particularly arm bones) are seen on a cup in the Moundvill Archaeological Park Jones Museum. bat400, June 2008.

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by bat400 : Moundville. Mound A as viewed from the tallest mound on the site, Mound B. Photo by bat400, June 2008.

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by bat400 : Moundville at sunset. Photo by bat400, June 2008.

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : On Feb. 25, 1930 The Tuscaloosa News published an article on the front page entitled, "400 Skeletons found at Mound Park." [at the Moundville, Alabama mound complex.] The article concerned an excavation done by Dr. Walter Jones, then the Director of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. The article presented his public report made the day before. The article relates that Jones "announced that one...

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : Stepped pottery vessel (genuine) excavated from the Moundville, Alabama mounds. Photo courtesy Dr Greg Little, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks (2016). 

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : Incised ceremonial cup (genuine) excavated from a mound at the Moundville, Alabama mound complex. Such items were not used day-to-day. They were important elements of rituals conducted at specific times of the year for very specific purposes. Photo courtesy Dr Greg Little, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks (2016). 

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : The "Willoughby Disk" from Moundville, Alabama. It is now thought that these flat, stone disks were used as "tables" during the death rituals. They would hold small containers of substances and other small artifacts used during the rituals. Photo courtesy Dr Greg Little, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks (2016). 

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : Incised stone mask excavated from a mound at Moundville, Alabama in the early 1900s. Similar masks were found in many mound sites from Ohio, to Tennessee, to Oklahoma, and in-between. Photo courtesy Dr Greg Little, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks (2016). 

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : Pottery sherd found at Moundville, Alabama mound complex. Photo courtesy Dr Greg Little, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks (2016). 

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : Pottery vessel excavated from a mound at Moundville, Alabama by C. B. Moore (1905). Photo courtesy Dr Greg Little, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks (2016). 

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : The museum at the Moundville, Alabama mound complex has an audio-video (some in 3-d) display devoted to the Path of Souls, or the death journey to the stars. The belief was that the soul first went to Orion's Nebula, then to the Milky Way, and then to Cygnus. Photo courtesy Dr Greg Little, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks (2016). 

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : The mounds at Moundville, Alabama were surrounded by a high palisade wall that ran 1.3 miles in length. Photo courtesy Dr Greg Little, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks (2016). 

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : Photo courtesy Dr Greg Little, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks (2016). Topographic map & survey of the Moundville, Alabama mound complex. The Shaman's Mound (A) is in the center.

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by AKFisher : Photo courtesy Dr Greg Little, author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds & Earthworks (2016). Author @AndrewBCollins standing on the top of the 65-ft high "Chief's Mound" at the Moundville, Alabama mound complex.

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by durhamnature : Effigy pipe, from "Certain Aboriginal Remains..." via archive.org

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by durhamnature : Plan of the mounds, from "Certain Aboriginal Remains..." via archive.org

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by durhamnature : Old drawing, from "On Certain Aboriginal.." via archive.org

Moundville Archeological Park
Moundville Archeological Park submitted by durhamnature : Old plan of the site, from "Mound Builders..." via archive.org

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"Moundville Archeological Park" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
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Moundville's Museum Readies for Reopening in May 2010. by bat400 on Sunday, 25 April 2010
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Several articles on the Jones Archaeological Museum renovation from the Tuscaloosa News writer Ashley Boyd have been carried on Associated Press.

This story from Ashley Boyd, Tuscaloosa News, 2009 describes the main features of the new displays planned for the museum.

This one from Stan Diel, Birmingham News, April 2010 includes photos of displays, artifacts and the park itself. I was in the museum before the closure for the renovation. Although it was quite easy to understand the displays and the artifacts were showed off to good advantage, the presentation was by current multi-media standards, definitely old fashioned in its approach.
The new displays would appear to be somewhat speculative. Having firm archaeological evidence for designs, and artifacts in the displays, but also a narrative including politics, religion, and social activities that have been deduced for the physical archaeology and aspects of the remaining south eastern cultures as recorded by the earliest Europeans. (Those historical reports of the Spanish and French post date the apex of Moundville occupation by more than a century.)
But if presented with appropriate background, these new displays will probably be more likely to imform the visitor of the importance of the site. I hope I'll have a chance to visit there again.
More exciting for people wanting to see artifacts, several pieces that were originally excavated at Moundville, but that have never been publicly displayed are on loan the museum from larger organizations (the Smithsonian and the Peabody.)
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Archaeology Channel Film on Moundville. by bat400 on Sunday, 25 April 2010
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Moundville: Journey Through Time. A 17 minute video.
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Two different StreetView points in Moundville. by bat400 on Wednesday, 14 April 2010
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View Moundville.


View Another Part of Moundville.
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T-shaped earthen structure preceded Moundville by more than 2,000 years by Andy B on Thursday, 14 May 2009
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About 3,300 years ago, a group of archaic period Native Americans living in what is now northeast Louisiana decided to build a great mound.

Ninety days after the project was begun by the Stone Age hunters and gatherers, the T-shaped, earthen mound — 70 feet high, 1,000 feet long in one direction and 700 feet long in the other — was complete.

The site, near modern-day Monroe, La., is known today as “Poverty Point,” a name given in the 18th century by an owner of the property. On Friday, T. R. Kidder, chair of the anthropology department at Washington University in St. Louis, told the University of Alabama Anthropology Club it is one of the most mysterious sites in the country.

“It is the second-largest earthen mound in all of North America, second only to one in Illinois,” he said, in a lecture titled “The Poverty Point Paradox.”

“The paradox is, what was going on here at this time that led to this sudden creation of this great mound?”

Like Moundville in Hale County, where a large population of Native Americans constructed several mounds about 900 years ago, Poverty Point was one of the larger organized communities of its day, Kidder said in a Friday morning interview.

“It was probably the largest hunter-gatherer community in all of North America, say north of Mexico,” Kidder said. “But that was a very simple time of very little complexity — it was a literally a ‘stone age’ society — but all of a sudden and in literally a month and a half, they have organized themselves and built this great mound.”

Kidder said evidence shows that at the time there were between 1,000 and 2,000 people living in the community where the mound was constructed, “which means that to accomplish what they did in such a short period of time, they had to recruit workers from all over the Southeast.”

“The mound took the equivalent of 31,000 modern dump trucks of dirt to build,” he said. “That’s a lot of work by a lot of people.

“That is another paradox — how did they get all this organized and completed in only 90 days?”

Kidder said the time it took to build the mound was established by archaeological methods that showed no erosion between the layers in the dirt. He said one theory about the location of the mound is that it covers what was a low-lying swamp.

“We know swamps were associated with the underworld and were to be avoided,” he said. “And at the base of the mound is fine silt we believe was put there to seal off that underworld. But there are a lot of swamps and there were a lot of archaic Native Americans who didn’t bother to build mounds.

“Why here, why these people?” he said. “There is also no evidence that anything was ever built on it, as you find in Moundville, with the various ceremonial structures and houses for the chiefs — these people had no chiefs.”

The Native Americans who lived in the area flourished for more than 1,000 years, Kidder said.

“Then, shortly after the mound was built, there was dramatic climate change in the Southeast, with much flooding, which drove the hunters and gatherers who had been there so long away for good,” Kidder said. “All that was left was the mound.”

Kidder’s lecture was also sponsored by the UA Student Government Association, the anthropology department and Lambda Alpha service organization.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20090307/NEWS/903061942
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    Re: T-shaped earthen structure preceded Moundville by more than 2,000 years by bat400 on Sunday, 17 May 2009
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    The reported lecture by T.R. Kidder was given in Tuscaloosa, the closest town to the Moundville site in Alabama. Somewhat confusingly to us, but not to his readers, the local reporter references the Poverty Point mounds and earthworks to the local Alabama site.
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