Troyville Earthworks

Troyville Earthworks is an ancient complex featuring nine platform mounds arranged within a surrounding embankment at the convergence of three river systems. The structures are distributed across Jonesville and represent a planned community layout from the early Mississippian era.

The site was built between 400 and 700 CE as a major center by Native American peoples of the Lower Mississippi Valley. The largest mound reached approximately 82 feet in height, making it an extraordinarily tall construction for its time.

This was a gathering place where people came together for ceremonies and community activities during the early Mississippian period. The mounds served as stages for rituals that connected different groups living in the river valleys.

The mounds are scattered along Willow Street and Second Street with informational markers placed at key locations throughout town. Walking is the best way to view all parts of the complex and understand how it was laid out.

The mounds reveal sophisticated building methods that used woven cane matting, palmetto fibers, and wooden planks layered together for strength. These materials were stacked in carefully arranged courses to create structures that lasted for centuries.

Location: Louisiana

GPS coordinates: 31.62680,-91.81560

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:09