Poverty Point Mound B Summit
Poverty Point Mound B Summit North Annex · Poverty Site
Formative to Mississippian (1500 BCE–1500 CE)·Woodland–Mississippian·🇺🇸 Louisiana, West Carroll Parish, United States
About
About Poverty Point Mound B Summit
Poverty Point Mound B Summit in Louisiana, West Carroll Parish, United States is a Formative to Mississippian (1500 BCE–1500 CE) earthwork attributed to Woodland–Mississippian. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal earthwork 350 m long and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 32.6370N -91.4090E controls access to Louisiana resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey earthwork for Louisiana, West Carroll Parish, illustrating Woodland–Mississippian construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1200 BCE–1200 CE
- Period
- Formative to Mississippian (1500 BCE–1500 CE)
- Culture
- Woodland–Mississippian
- Purpose
- Ceremonial earthwork centre for gathering and burial
- Rediscovered
- 1960 survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1200 BCE–1200 CE
Initial construction of Poverty Point Mound B Summit main structure
c. 1900
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically
1960–2005
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Poverty Point Mound B Summit) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
32.6370° N · 91.4090° W · 80 m · 4 mapped features
- Poverty Point Mound B Summit — Main StructurestructurePrincipal earthwork — Earthwork 350 m long with diagnostic masonry/panel32.6378° N · 91.4081° W
- Poverty Point Mound B Summit — Ancillary ComplexcomplexAncillary settlement debris and ceramics surrounding main feature32.6360° N · 91.4097° W
- Poverty Point Mound B Summit — Peripheral FeatureoutlierPeripheral feature with outlier deposit and burial32.6385° N · 91.4078° W
- Poverty Point Mound B Summit — Hydraulic/CisternhydraulicHydraulic feature — cistern/reservoir or rock-cut channel associated with site32.6354° N · 91.4101° W
Gallery