Hayes site, Archaeological site near Bayou Meto, Arkansas County, United States.
Hayes site is an archaeological settlement featuring four earthen mounds positioned around a central open plaza near Bayou Meto. The mounds vary in size and purpose, with the whole arrangement following the landscape of this river valley location.
The settlement was inhabited by the Plum Bayou culture from around 650 to 1050 CE, during the Late Woodland period of prehistoric America. The mounds were constructed and used during this era before the site was eventually abandoned.
The pottery and tools found here reveal how the Plum Bayou people lived daily and made their belongings. Visitors can examine these discoveries in regional museums to understand the craft and skill of this ancient culture.
This location is situated in a rural area of Arkansas County and welcomes those interested in ancient settlements. Research materials and detailed information about the site are available through the Arkansas Archeological Survey.
The arrangement of four mounds represents one of the earliest examples of a planned settlement layout in North America before European contact. This organization reveals sophisticated decision-making among the inhabitants about how to structure their community.
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