Near Houston in Chickasaw County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)
Bynum Mounds
Photographed By Duane Hall, June 4, 2015
1. Bynum Mounds Marker
Marker #1
Inscription.
Bynum Mounds. . , (Marker #1) , Prehistoric Trade , , Raw materials and articles from distant areas reached the Indians of the Bynum site by trade along trails that were the forerunners of the Natchez Trace. ,
Spool-shaped objects made of copper filled with lead were found with Bynum burials.
Flint for tools and weapons came from as far away as the region of Ohio.
Green stone for polished celts (axes) was obtained from the Alabama-Tennessee Piedmont.
Marine shells came from the Gulf Coast.
Take the tour path to inspect the mounds and the house sites. , , (Marker #2) , A Living from the Land , , The Indians hunted, fished and gathered wild berries, nuts and fruit. They supplemented these activities by farming. , , Deer was the most common game animal. The Indians used the bones for tools and the skins for clothing. , , Cooking pots were made of clay, mixed with sand or grit. The surfaces were decorated with the impressions of fabrics or cords. , , You may see specimens from the Bynum Mounds in the Parkway Visitor Center near Tupelo.
(Marker #1) Prehistoric Trade
Raw materials and articles from distant areas reached the Indians of the Bynum site by trade along trails that were the forerunners of the Natchez Trace.
Spool-shaped objects made of copper filled with lead were found with Bynum burials.
Flint for tools and weapons came from as far away as the region of Ohio.
Green stone for polished celts (axes) was obtained from the Alabama-Tennessee Piedmont.
Marine shells came from the Gulf Coast.
Take the tour path to inspect the mounds and the house sites.
(Marker #2) A Living from the Land
The Indians hunted, fished and gathered wild berries, nuts and fruit. They supplemented these activities by farming.
Deer was the most common game animal. The Indians used the bones for tools and the skins for clothing.
Cooking pots were made of clay, mixed with sand or grit. The surfaces were decorated with the impressions of fabrics or cords.
You may see specimens from the Bynum Mounds in the Parkway Visitor Center near Tupelo.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans
Location. 33° 53.891′ N, 88° 56.917′ W. Marker is near Houston, Mississippi, in Chickasaw County. Marker can be reached from Natchez Trace Parkway (at milepost 232.4), 2.6 miles north of Mississippi Highway 8, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at the Bynum Mounds turnoff from the Natchez Trace Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Houston MS 38851, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Summer Shelters informational sign visible in photo
Photographed By Duane Hall, June 4, 2015
8. Summer Shelters Info Sign
In summer the Indians probably lived largely out-of-doors under temporary brush lean-to shelters. Most of their time was spent caring for their crops, hunting, and gathering wild plants, fish, and shellfish from the surrounding area. New winter homes were built as necessary before the winter months.
Photographed By Duane Hall, June 4, 2015
9. Path to Bynum Mounds
Winter homes informational sign visible in photo
Photographed By Duane Hall, June 4, 2015
10. Winter Homes Info Sign
Three permanent house foundations, one 80 feet directly ahead of you, were discovered during archeological excavations. These were built by placing timbers upright in a circular pattern, weaving willows or reed stems into them, and finally plastering mud on the outside. Roofs were thatched with grass and bark with a center hole for smoke to escape.
Photographed By Duane Hall, June 4, 2015
11. Mound
Photographed By Duane Hall, June 4, 2015
12. Bynum Mounds
As viewed from parking lot
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 576 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on June 30, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.