Marsden Mounds, Archaeological mounds in Richland Parish, Louisiana.
Marsden Mounds is an archaeological site in Richland Parish featuring five earthen mounds and two embankment sections along the eastern edge of Macon Ridge in northeastern Louisiana. The structures sit spread across an open landscape that once served as a gathering space for ancient communities.
The site shows occupation spanning from about 1500 BCE to 1200 CE, beginning with the Poverty Point culture and continuing through the Troyville-Coles Creek period. The Marsden Phase around 500-600 CE represents a key moment in the cultural development of the Tensas Basin region.
The site serves as the primary reference point for the Marsden Phase between 500-600 CE, contributing to the chronological understanding of the Tensas Basin region.
The site can be reached via Louisiana Route 134 or US Highway 80 leading to Poverty Point Parkway at Poverty Point Reservoir State Park. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and come prepared for changing weather conditions, as the mounds sit on open terrain.
The largest mound, Mound E, rises about 13 feet high with a base roughly 150 feet on each side and sits across a wide, open plaza from the other mounds. This deliberate spacing between structures reveals the careful planning of the original ceremonial layout.
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