Dogtooth Bend Mounds and Village Site, Archaeological site in Alexander County, Illinois
Dogtooth Bend is an archaeological site with two prominent earthen mounds and the remains of a former village spread across a large area along the lakeshore. The location reveals the physical layout of a historic settlement with distinct zones for different activities and functions.
The site was an important settlement center for Mississippi-period peoples between the 10th and 16th centuries. The community thrived as a trade point and social gathering location in the broader region.
The site reveals how Mississippi-period peoples organized their daily lives and built lasting communities along this stretch of river landscape. Visitors can trace the layout of the former village and understand the patterns of settlement that shaped this place over many generations.
Visitors can explore the site independently, walking paths that allow views of the mounds and village grounds. Plan enough time for a leisurely walk to see all areas and take in the landscape thoughtfully.
The two mounds differ in size and suggest different functions that reflect the community's social organization. Together with the village grounds, they form a pattern that helped researchers understand how complex social life was organized at this ancient place.
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