Moundville in Hale County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Mound B

Moundville Archaeological Park

Photographed by Mark Hilton, January 19, 2020

1. Mound B Marker

Inscription. The mound in front of you probably once served as a platform for the principal chief's house. The noble who lived there was an extremely important political and religious figure. It is likely that this chief claimed to have divine relationships with supernatural beings whose powers he could harness.

Mound V is the broad, low platform mound to your right and is one of the larger structures at Moundville. Recent investigations here revealed a sod-covered earth lodge which may have been used as a council house. Other remains indicate that Mound V was part of an upper-class residential compound.

Mound B, the site's largest mound, did not assume its final form and size until late in the history of Moundville, sometime after AD 1400. Nearly 60 feet tall, Mound B contains 111,770 cubic yards of dirt. It's base covers almost two acres. The mound's summit slants upward to the west. Eroded down over the centuries, this may represent the remnants of a second level or tier.

Erected by the University of Alabama.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities

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• Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1400.

Location. 33° 0.47′ N, 87° 37.845′ W. Marker is in Moundville, Alabama, in Hale County. It can be reached from River Bank Road 0.3 miles west of Mound Parkway, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: River Bank Road, Moundville AL 35474, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Earthlodge (a few steps from this marker); Politics and Power (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Politics and Power (within shouting distance of this marker); Mound Arrangement (approx. 0.2 miles

Mound B Marker at base of stairs to top of Mound B. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, January 19, 2020

2. Mound B Marker at base of stairs to top of Mound B.

away); A Perspective of Power (approx. ¼ mile away); The CCC and Moundville (approx. ¼ mile away); Protection and the Palisade (approx. 0.4 miles away); Moundville Archaeological Park (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Moundville.

View from the top of Mound B. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, January 19, 2020

3. View from the top of Mound B.

Map of Moundville Archaeological Park with Mound B at top center. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by UA Brochure

4. Map of Moundville Archaeological Park with Mound B at top center.

National Geographic illustration of a trader at Mound B. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, January 19, 2020

5. National Geographic illustration of a trader at Mound B.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 21, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 861 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 21, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.