Near New Liberty in Massac County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Kincaid Mounds

Center of an Ancient Chiefdom

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 27, 2023

1. The Kincaid Mounds Marker

Inscription. Between 1000 and 700 years ago, the first people to practice large-scale agriculture in southern Illinois established Kincaid Mounds as the seat of their Chiefdom. These Native Americans were of the Mississippian culture and occupied Kincaid from approximately 1050 to 1450 AD. They were ruled by a chief who inherited his position and probably claimed power from the sun. Corn or maize farmers in the bottomlands along the Ohio River supplied the leaders with grain and constructed the mounds we see today. They also constructed the protective wall or palisade that encircled the principal mounds, but which we now only from the archaeological record.

The mounds are raised platforms on which the Chief and other leaders of this society lived or ruled from, and upon which thatch-roofed ceremonial buildings, temples, and homes were constructed. The mounds were built in stages over a 400-year period by stacking basket loads of selected soil one on top of another. Visitors to the site will see flat-topped 30-foot-tall mounds arcing around the level plaza area. This plaza was probably the most important public place in the Chiefdom.

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It was used for both social and political activities. Here the important chunkey game was played and major ceremonies were held, including purification rituals and celebration of the new corn crop.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list.

Location. 37° 4.783′ N, 88° 29.442′ W. Marker is near New Liberty, Illinois, in Massac County. It can be reached from Newcut Road 4 miles south of County Route 6, on the left when traveling east. Marker is on the grounds of Kincaid Mounds State Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Newcut Rd, Brookport IL 62910, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Illinois — Little Egypt.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 27, 2023

2. The Kincaid Mounds Marker

Marker is on the left.

once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Archaeology (here, next to this marker); Clark's Army Camped / Clark's Land (approx. 4 miles away in Kentucky); Paducah, Kentucky / McCracken County (approx. 4.8 miles away in Kentucky); Confederate Flag of Welcome / Rescue of Flag (approx. 5.3 miles away in Kentucky); Paducah Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 5½ miles away in Kentucky); Western Baptist Hospital (approx. 5.7 miles away in Kentucky); Paducah Coca-Cola Bottling Company (approx. 5.7 miles away in Kentucky); Union Labor (approx. 5.7 miles away in Kentucky).

Also see . . .
1. Kincaid Mounds (official website). (Submitted on September 29, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
2. Kincaid Mounds State Historic Site on Wikipedia. (Submitted on September 29, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 27, 2023

3. The Kincaid Mounds Marker

Marker is on a platform in front of the mounds.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 27, 2023

4. The Kincaid Mounds Marker

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 27, 2023

5. The Kincaid Mounds Marker

Additional marker (no historical information) to the right of it

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 341 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 29, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.