Bayou Grande Cheniere Mounds, Archaeological site in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States.
Bayou Grande Cheniere Mounds is an archaeological site consisting of twelve earthen mounds positioned around a central plaza. The tallest mound rises approximately 60 feet (18 meters) on the eastern side of the plaza and forms the most prominent structure at the location.
The site was occupied from 875 to 1200 CE during the Coastal Coles Creek period, representing a substantial timespan of habitation. Scientific investigations began in 1926 when the Smithsonian Institution conducted the initial excavations.
The mounds were arranged to create a gathering space where people came together for ceremonies and communal activities. This layout reveals how the community organized itself around shared rituals and events.
The site is best explored on foot to appreciate the scale and arrangement of the mounds from different vantage points. Wear sturdy footwear since the terrain is uneven and can become muddy, especially after rainfall.
A constructed causeway once linked the settlement to nearby Bayou Grande Cheniere, demonstrating that residents had sophisticated knowledge of water management. This connection shows that water transport played a central role in their daily life and trade routes.
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