Routh Mounds

The Routh Mounds are an archaeological site with several earth mounds located roughly two miles northwest of Winter Quarters State Historic Site. These earthen structures provide physical evidence of past settlement and activity in this part of Louisiana.

The site served as a major center during the Routh Phase from 1200 to 1350, a period of active settlement in the Tensas Basin. This era was part of the later Mississippian cultural development, marked by increasingly complex social organization.

The mounds show how Native American communities in this region designed their settlements and what role shared structures played in their community life. The arrangement of these earthen works suggests an organized society that created gathering places for important ceremonies and meetings.

Access to this site is restricted because it sits on private property and requires prior permission to visit. Visitors should arrange access in advance and respect property boundaries.

The site is primarily known from archaeological records, as the mounds are now concealed beneath forest growth and vegetation. This makes it an important reference point for researchers studying the complex development of Mississippian cultures in the region.