LSU Campus Mounds

LSU Campus Mounds are two earthen structures located on the main grounds of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Each mound rises roughly 20 feet (6 meters) in height, forming a distinct elevation across the otherwise flat campus terrain.

Built more than 11,000 years ago by Indigenous peoples, these structures rank among the oldest human-made constructions on the American continent. Their creation predates the construction of the Egyptian pyramids by thousands of years, highlighting their extraordinary age.

Researchers recovered samples showing layers of ash and burned plant material, evidence of ceremonial fires at this location. These findings suggest the site served as a gathering place for rituals, with traces that remain detectable beneath the surface today.

Preservation efforts require ongoing monitoring, so fencing goes up during larger campus events to protect the structures from wear. Visitors should stay on marked paths and keep a distance from the mounds to help avoid long-term damage.

The orientation of the two structures deviates exactly 8.5 degrees east from true north. This alignment corresponds to the point where the star Arcturus rose on the horizon thousands of years ago, suggesting astronomical knowledge among the builders.