Pocahontas in Hinds County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)
Ceremonial Mounds Of The Southeast
Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, February 15, 2009
1. Ceremonial Mounds Of The Southeast Marker
Inscription.
Ceremonial Mounds Of The Southeast. .
Mississippi Mounds . Two main types of mound were constructed by American Indians in Mississippi: burial mounds and platform mouds. The Pocahontas archaeological site has one of each of these mounds. Mound A, which you see in front of you, is a platform mound and Mound B, which is located across Highway 49 on private land, is a 10 feet tall burial mound., Platform mounds served as elevated platforms upon which wooden buildings often were built. It is commonly believed by archeologists that these mound-top structures were built as residences for the religious or secular leaders of American Indian communities. The construction of mounds by American Indians began about 6000 years ago during the Middle Archaic Period; however, archaeologists have yet to determine their function. It is still unclear whether or not these early mounds were used as platforms. The use of mounds that are clearly understood as platform mounds began about 2000 years ago during the time that archeologists refer to as the Woodland period (about 3000 to 1000 years ago). The tradition continued into the Mississippian period (about 1000 to 500 years ago), and was still active in the 16th and 17th centuries A.D., when first the Spanish, and later French explorers made contact with the native inhabitants of the Southeast., Burial mounds, which are conical in shape, were constructed primarily during the Woodland period; however Mound B at Pocahontas is believed to be approximately the same age as Mound A. Archeologists believe that the individuals who were laid to rest in Mound B held a special status with the community. They may have been elders or community leaders who were viewed as having great prestige. Elaborate and exotic grave goods are often found in burial mounds. The artifacts shown to the far right, are examples of grave goods taken from the conical grave mound at Pocahontas in the early 1900s.,
Honoring The Dead. The burial of individuals in conical mounds was undoubtedly and elaborate and dramatic ritual event meant to bestow honor upon the deceased. Clearly, the mounds were meant to stand for generations as monuments honoring the lives of individuals buried within., Unfortunately, a great number of American Indian burial mounds have been destroyed in the past 200 years by the indifference of land developers, the greed of grave robbers, and the curiosity of archaeologists. However, over the past 30 years archaeologists have become much more sensitive to American Indians concerns about the disturbance of their ancestors graves. During this time a partnership has developed archaeologists, American Indians, and the federal government, to help insure that these ancient monuments stand for many generations to come. Numerous state and federal laws exist to protect American Indian burials. For example, the Mississippi Antiquities Act makes the disturbance o such burials illegal and require those convicted to be subjected to monetary fines and/or imprisonment.
Mississippi Mounds
Two main types of mound were constructed by American Indians in Mississippi: burial mounds and platform mouds. The Pocahontas archaeological site has one of each of these mounds. Mound A, which you see in front of you, is a platform mound and Mound B, which is located across Highway 49 on private land, is a 10 feet tall burial mound.
Platform mounds served as elevated platforms upon which wooden buildings often were built. It is commonly believed by archeologists that these mound-top structures were built as residences for the religious or secular leaders of American Indian communities. The construction of mounds by American Indians began about 6000 years ago during the Middle Archaic Period; however, archaeologists have yet to determine their function. It is still unclear whether or not these early mounds were used as platforms. The use of mounds that are clearly understood as platform mounds began about 2000 years ago during the time that archeologists refer to as the Woodland period (about 3000 to 1000 years ago). The tradition continued into the Mississippian period (about 1000 to 500 years
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ago), and was still active in the 16th and 17th centuries A.D., when first the Spanish, and later French explorers made contact with the native inhabitants of the
Southeast.
Burial mounds, which are conical in shape, were constructed primarily during the Woodland period; however Mound B at Pocahontas is believed to be approximately the same age as Mound A. Archeologists believe that the individuals who were laid to rest in Mound B held a special status with the community. They may have been elders or community leaders who were viewed as having great prestige. Elaborate and exotic grave goods are often found in burial mounds. The artifacts shown to the far right, are examples of grave goods taken from the conical grave mound at Pocahontas in the early 1900s.
Honoring The Dead
The burial of individuals in conical mounds was undoubtedly and elaborate and dramatic ritual event meant to bestow honor upon the deceased. Clearly, the mounds were meant to stand for generations as monuments honoring the lives of individuals buried within.
Unfortunately, a great number of American Indian burial mounds have been destroyed in the past
Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, February 15, 2009
2. A clay bowl
200 years by the indifference of land developers, the greed of grave robbers, and the curiosity of archaeologists. However, over the past 30 years archaeologists have become much more sensitive to American Indians concerns about the disturbance of their ancestors graves. During this time a partnership has developed archaeologists, American Indians, and the federal government, to help insure that these ancient monuments stand for many generations to come. Numerous state and federal laws exist to protect American Indian burials. For example, the Mississippi Antiquities Act makes the disturbance o such burials illegal and require those convicted to be subjected to monetary fines and/or imprisonment.
Erected by Mississippi Department of Transportation/ Cobb Institute of Archeology, Mississippi State University.
Location. 32° 28.12′ N, 90° 17.346′ W. Marker is in Pocahontas, Mississippi, in Hinds County. It is on U.S. 49 (U.S. 49) 0.8 miles south of Kennebrew Road, in the median. Located
Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, February 15, 2009
3. An axe head
in Pocahontas Mounds Roadside Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13886 US 49, Jackson MS 39209, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Natchez Trace Corridor and in Greater Jackson. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. 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 the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, February 15, 2009
5. Clay Pipe
Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, February 15, 2009
6. Wide View Ceremonial Mounds Of The Southeast Marker
Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, February 15, 2009
7. An Earspool
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2020, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 691 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on July 11, 2020, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota.
