Visit the Mississippi Mound Trail

While driving along U.S. Route 61, you can catch a glimpse of some of Mississippi’s earliest history. The grass-covered mounds rising from the land may seem to be an inexplicable oddity, but they represent some of the longest-surviving examples of prehistory in the state. The Mississippi Mound Trail, running parallel to the Mississippi River, links 33 sites across the state where ancient Native American earthworks remain intact today.

A high concentration of prehistoric mounds exists throughout the Mississippi Delta. The early Mound Builders of the Mississippian period from A.D. 800-1600 constructed homes, temples and burial sites from the land itself. Some structures appear to be little more than a slight rise in the land, while others, like the Emerald Mound near Natchez, whose base measures 770 by 435 feet at a height of 35 feet, are a towering sight. According to Cindy Carter-Davis, chief archaeologist at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH), the scale of these mounds “would have represented a massive commitment of time and energy to construct – one basket of soil at a time – over periods of sometimes hundreds of years.”

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Magnificent Mound

Today, visitors can take a trip back through time from their cars. The mound sites are clearly marked and easily accessible from the highway. Nature trails and museums filled with historical artifacts allow visitors to step into a time when ancient peoples inhabited this land, building incredible earthworks that fill viewers with awe to this day.

The Mississippi Mound Trail was developed by the MDAH and the Mississippi Department of Transportation to raise awareness about the importance of preserving these prehistoric sites.

“These sites are significant for allowing us to explore the story of Mississippi and its citizens more fully and for their importance to our tribal partners,” Carter-Davis says.

The earliest mounds date back 4,500 years, and many have been lost to natural and manmade causes. Erosion, farming, looting and urban development all pose a threat. Today, historical markers designate each mound site along the route, which runs along the entire western edge of the state.

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Mounds Near Natchez

The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, or the Fatherland Site, was the capital of the Natchez chiefdom. Home to the Natchez chief known as the Great Sun, Grand Village became the main ceremonial center of the Natchez from 1682 to 1730. A siege by French colonists, who were formerly allies of the Natchez, spelled the destruction of this sacred site. When the remaining Natchez people were sold into slavery, the Natchez chiefdom, which had called this region home for more than 1,000 years, essentially dissipated from existence.

Today at Grand Village, the annual Natchez Powwow each spring honors the region’s history and the rich culture of the Natchez people. Also on-site are a museum containing artifacts excavated from the mounds, a visitor center and nature trails that span the 128-acre park.

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Historic Hikes

The Winterville Site, located near Greenville, is a state park as well as a National Historic Landmark. Mound A, at a height of 55 feet, is one of the 10 tallest mounds in the U.S. From its peak, one can catch a glimpse of the Mississippi River. Winterville was once a great ceremonial gathering place for local Mississippian peoples, who pre-date the Natchez. The MDAH recently constructed miles of walking trails through the park, which also features a visitor center and museum.

Take a detour along the Natchez Trace Parkway to visit the massive Emerald Mound. Covering a staggering 8 acres, the 35-foot-high mound was the original site of the Natchez capital before Grand Village. A winding trail crosses the mound, allowing visitors to appreciate the scope of this sacred earthwork on foot. It is a sobering feeling to walk upon what once was, and still is, sacred ground.

Preserving the Past

Today, efforts by the MDAH help preserve and maintain these historical sites. Archaeological excavations dating back to the 1800s have unearthed pottery, jewelry and sacred objects, as well as funerary remains. Unfortunately, the mounds have also been subject to looting and loss throughout their history.

“New technology, such as drones and Light Detection and Ranging technology, plus improvements in technology, like ground penetrating radar (GPR), are allowing archaeologists new and unique glimpses into our past, while helping us preserve these sites by requiring less excavation and thus less destruction,” Carter-Davis says.

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), enacted in 1990, protects cultural objects and remains that are often discovered at sites such as the Mississippi mounds. Under the terms of NAGPRA, the MDAH continues to ensure the respectful handling and return of ancestral objects to the descendants of the Native American peoples who first inhabited this land.

A Trail Through History

An abundance of mound sites, from Edgefield to Smith Creek, is accessible from U.S. Route 61. Those wishing to visit one or more of the sites can design their own self-guided trip from information provided by the MDAH. Since some of the sites feature public parks and walking trails, visitors can plan for a picnic or a hike while in the area.

From dog walkers and hikers to history enthusiasts, most everyone can find something to appreciate along the Mississippi Mounds Trail. Their significance as cultural and historical landmarks makes them not just a tourist attraction but important ancestral sites for descendants of some of the earliest cultures of Mississippi.