Winterville Mounds Winterville Site

mound a, largest mound @ site

archaeological evidence indicates there continuities in culture between residents of winterville mounds , later natchez indians, mississippi tribe documented french explorers , settlers in 18th century. natchez indians society divided upper , lower ranks, person s social rank determined heredity through female line. chief , other tribal officials inherited positions members of royal family. such elaborate leadership network able direct mound building @ winterville organized civilian labor force. however, there no evidence of large residential population @ site or other similar sites. lack of artifacts , remains indicates site used ceremonial purposes.

a great fire during late 14th century consumed original building on temple mound @ winterville. according archaeological evidence, cause of fire remains mystery. site continued used afterward, no more mounds built or maintained. although site continued occupied after fire, general population declined @ winterville while increasing @ settlements , mound sites 50 miles south, in lower yazoo river basin. ad 1450 winterville mound site appears have been abandoned completely. period of site s greatest florescence used archaeologists basis describing winterville phase (1200 1400 ce) of lower yazoo basin region.

the first modern archaeological excavations @ winterville site conducted in 1940s national park service , harvard university s lower mississippi survey. jeffrey p. brain directed excavations @ winterville in 1967 , report, winterville: late prehistoric culture contact in lower mississippi valley, published in 1989 mississippi department of archives , history. burials , structural remains found @ site, along items such ceramic , stone artifacts, can seen @ winterville museum in park.

winterville mounds dedicated mississippi state park in march 1969. site designated national historic landmark in 1993.