Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park, Archaeological state park in Lonoke County, Arkansas.
Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park sits on the banks of Mound Lake and contains three preserved mounds from an original complex of eighteen prehistoric ceremonial structures. The park features a visitor center with interpretive displays and trails that guide people through the archaeological site.
The site was first documented by French explorer Louis Bringier in 1812, which later drew the attention of the Smithsonian Institution during the 1870s. These early investigations laid the groundwork for understanding this prehistoric settlement.
The mounds were built between 700 and 1050 AD by the Plum Bayou people according to alignments with solar positions and standardized measurements. This layout reveals how the builders connected their structures to the sky above.
A visitor center offers interpretive exhibits and an audiovisual room, while two trails wind through the archaeological site. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for uneven ground in some sections.
The site preserves original platform mounds that reached impressive heights and rank among the tallest surviving earthworks in the state. This scale shows the enormous effort and organization the ancient people invested in their constructions.
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