Poverty Point — Ridge 3 Terrace West (Jackson Parish)
Poverty Ridge3 W
Neolithic to Mississippian (3000 BCE–1400 CE)·Neolithic / Woodland·🇺🇸 Louisiana, West Carroll Parish, Poverty Point, United States
About
About Poverty Point — Ridge 3 Terrace West (Jackson Parish)
Poverty Point — Ridge 3 Terrace West (Jackson Parish) in Louisiana, West Carroll Parish, Poverty Point, United States is a Neolithic to Mississippian (3000 BCE–1400 CE) earthwork attributed to Neolithic / Woodland. Systematic survey and LiDAR document stratified deposits. The site includes a principal enclosure and ancillary necropolis. Dimensions 82m × 375m; area 3.5 ha. Excavation unexcavated; condition buried. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Neolithic / Woodland earthwork with stratified sequence and landscape setting at 35 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction technique
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Territorial marker
- 02Elite residence hypothesis
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. 2500 BCE
- Period
- Neolithic to Mississippian (3000 BCE–1400 CE)
- Culture
- Neolithic / Woodland
- Builders
- Neolithic
- Purpose
- Ceremonial earthwork with astronomical alignment
- Rediscovered
- 2007
- Excavation
- Unexcavated
c. 2500 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1092 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1960
Modern rediscovery and excavation
c. 1585 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
32.6400° N · 91.4100° W · 35 m · 4 mapped features
- Principal MonumentstructurePrincipal Monument at Poverty Point — Ridge 3 Terrace West (Jackson Parish) — structure with stratified deposits32.6422° N · 91.4076° W
- Ancillary ComplexcomplexAncillary Complex at Poverty Point — Ridge 3 Terrace West (Jackson Parish) — complex with stratified deposits32.6389° N · 91.4095° W
- Outlier FeatureoutlierOutlier Feature at Poverty Point — Ridge 3 Terrace West (Jackson Parish) — outlier with stratified deposits32.6391° N · 91.4099° W
- Reservoir/CisternhydraulicReservoir/Cistern at Poverty Point — Ridge 3 Terrace West (Jackson Parish) — hydraulic with stratified deposits32.6425° N · 91.4107° W
Gallery