Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, Archaeological ceremonial center in Alto, Texas.
Caddo Mounds is an archaeological site in Alto with three earthen mounds rising from the landscape, including two platform mounds and one burial mound. The grounds feature a museum building with hands-on exhibits and a walking trail that connects visitors to the different mounds and their purposes.
The Caddo people established this as a permanent settlement around 800 CE and used it as a ceremonial center until the 13th century. The site remained an important gathering place for religious and social practices across several generations.
The site reflects Caddo Nation traditions through exhibits and ongoing collaboration with present-day Caddo people from Oklahoma. Visitors can see how this community maintains its connection to this place through educational programs and shared narratives.
The site is open Tuesday through Sunday, with a museum building serving as the main point of entry where you can learn about the site. A walking path guides you around the grounds, allowing you to explore the mounds and their settings at your own pace.
This location marks the southwestern edge of mound-building cultures in North America, representing the furthest reach of these practices. Its position along El Camino Real de los Tejas highlights an intersection of ancient and later colonial routes.
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